Why are dried grapes called raisins ? Dried cranberries called crasiins?

Question

Raisins do not sound like grapes or craisins does not sound like cranberries.

Answer 1

good question I'm not sure. :)

Answer 2

The word 'raisin' comes from an old Anglo-French word meaning 'grape'! Which comes from an earlier Latin word 'racemus' which means a cluster of grapes or berries.

As for 'craisin', I think that is a very clever new word. Ocean Spray (or whoever 'invented' and sells dried cranberries) had marketing people to come up with a new name for them. 'Craisins' suggests that they are a kind of raisin, that you can use them the same way you use raisins. It's more imaginative than 'dried cranberries' because it actually tells you what they are, or how they want you to see them, as 'cranberry-flavored raisins'--about the same size, the same sweetness, the same usefulness. Plus, a name like 'craisins' can be trademarked so while any other company can sell dried cranberries, they can't call them 'craisins'. I think that's pretty clever!

Answer 3

The origin of the word "raisin" is from Old French. The words "raisin sec" means "dried grape". However, the only reason they call them "craisins" is for the consumer to have an image/idea of what the product is like: "It's like a raisin but it's made from a cranberry". In advertising, you want to create quick reference points/"images". That's why brand logos are the cornerstone of most products. You don't need product explanation, you just need the logo to provoke the images. Those images become meshed with the consumer's mindset.

Answer 4

The word raisin comes from Old French; in Old French and French, raisin means "grape", while a raisin in French is called a raisin sec, a "dry grape". The Old French word developed from Latin racemus, "a bunch of grapes". The origin of the Latin word racemus is unclear.

"Craisins" was some marketing wonk's take off of raisins (apparently the French don't have a word for "dry cranberry")

Answer 5

I'm not sure why dried grapes are called raisins, the craizens thing however is not the actual name of them, it's a marketing gimmick and plays on the name raisins but puts a c in front for cranberries. It's actually a brand name, not the name of the food. Kinda how Kleenix is not the actual name for tissue, it's a brand name that has come to mean tissue because it's so popular.

Answer 6

The word raisin dates back to Middle English and is a loanword from Old French; in Old French and French, raisin means "grape", while a raisin in French is called a raisin sec, a "dry grape".
i don't know about the craisins..

Answer 7

Well lets see. . .

the process to get raisins means u must DRY something

Dried Grapes = Raisins

Dried Cranberries= Craisiins

because both things are dried so they just use that raisins are dried grapes so if you dry cranberries an easier and fun way to call them is Craisiins.

Answer 8

well the word raisin is foreign, i believe so, and it was called that LONG before dried cranberries were called craisins. they just wanted it to be like raisins, only cranberries, not grapes. a marketing deal.

Answer 9

Are Craisins Dried Cranberries

Answer 10

Etymology

The word raisin dates back to Middle English and is a loanword from Old French; in Old French and French, raisin means "grape", while a raisin in French is called a raisin sec, a "dry grape". The Old French word in turn developed from Latin racemus, "a bunch of grapes". The origin of the Latin word is unclear.

Answer 11

I speak french so it's Raisin because that's what Grape is in french, sorry I couldn't be of anymore help, I'm really trying to get the best answer thought, lol

Samantha, =)