Tarocco
/təˈrɒkəʊ/noun
A variety of sweet orange, especially one with reddish flesh, and an Italian term associated with tarot cards.
Did you know?Italian tarocco can mean both a Tarocco orange and a tarot-related term, but scholars have not established a reliable original meaning for the tarot word itself.
Etymological Timeline
Medieval Latin / Romance period
Latin
Unknown
“No securely documented ancestor for Italian tarocco has been established; the word’s earliest origin remains disputed.”
15th Century
Italian
tarocchi
“The plural name for the tarot pack or its cards; the ultimate source is uncertain.”
16th Century
Italian
tarocco
“A singular tarot card or a person associated with playing the game, depending on context.”
17th–18th Century
Italian dialects
tarocco
“A name applied to particular orange varieties; the connection between the fruit name and the tarot term is not proven.”
19th–20th Century
English
Tarocco
“A loanword used chiefly for the Tarocco blood-orange cultivar.”
Modern English
English
Tarocco
“A recognized name for a red-fleshed sweet orange, while related forms such as tarot and tarock refer to card traditions.”