Did the word orange come before the actual fruit orange?

Question

Did the word orange come before the actual fruit orange? and why is a lime a lime colour and an orange is orange colour so why is a lemon not called a yellow?

Answer 1

Do we learnt speaking before our tongue was there???

Answer 2

Before the orange fruit was introduced to the English-speaking world, the colour was referred to (in Old English) as geoluhread, which translates into Modern English variously as yellow-red, yellowred, or yellored (all pronounced the same). So I guess the colour is named after the fruit.

The original fruit known in English as a "lime" was Citrus aurantifolia, derived from the Persian name لیمو, limu (the fruit was introduced to Europe during the Crusades). Although the colour green is not named after the fruit, lime green is.

The lemon (Citrus × limon) is a hybrid citrus tree of cultivated origin. I've no idea why it's not called a yellow though, perhaps we already had a yellow fruit.

Answer 3

i think of its orange the fruit by way of fact we've maximum of end result that are in diverse colours yet none of them are named after their colour.i comprehend its not a passable rationalization yet this could be a reason Edit : Yeah, i've got have been given what you are attempting to propose, lionwolf! in accordance to me, the be conscious became used for the fruit and then used to call for the colour by way of fruit

Answer 4

In the West Indies oranges are green or yellowish .I know this looks like a joke but it's a true answer

Answer 5

I think the word must have come first - in many other languages it is not known by its colour - eg Sinassapel in dutch (citrus apple), aranja in spanish, and arancione in Italian. it is orange also in french and german.

Answer 6

good question, but i think the orange came first before the colour as there nothing else previously that colour in the UK

Answer 7

Can you imagine ordering a drink with "Ice and yellow please"?

Or ordering Yellow Meringue Pie, or drinking Yellowade.

And washing up liquid wouldn't be the same if it was laced with Yellow Zest.

Answer 8

I believe the fruit was around longer than the word...fruits just don't pop into existence because you think up a new word.

Answer 9

This is what I found go to this site and it will tell you exactly were it came from http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=19980408

Answer 10

Good question! look at this:
http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=19980408