The Etymology of “Orange”
The word “orange” has complex origins in various languages that influenced each other over time. The path to the modern English term traces through multiple European languages and from various Oranges-named locations. The ultimate origin is unclear.
Etymological Theories
There are a few main theories about the etymological origin of “orange”:
– From the fruit through Old French and Italian. Some believe the earliest known origin is the Sanskrit word nāraṅga (“orange tree”). From there, it traveled through Persian into Arabic, then to Old Italian as narancia. This shifted to naranza in Spanish, eventually becoming orange in French. The French term was adopted into Middle English for the color and fruit.
– From the tree through French. Others trace it to the Arabic word nāranj (“orange tree”), derived from the Persian nārang. It passed through Old Provençal as aurange to refer to the fruit tree, which later became orange in French for the tree’s fruit and color. The French word entered Middle English.
– From a place name. Another proposed origin is the Dravidian word for “orange tree.” This became the name for a southern Indian state now known as Kerala. Its capital was called Nagar Kovil, anglicized to Negaran Coil or Orange Cove by Arab traders. Some believe European visitors later brought the place name Orange/Auranja into Europe.
Challenges in Pinpointing the Origin
There are difficulties in determining the exact origin point and path of the word “orange”:
– Old written records are limited for reconstructing the early history and relationships between ancient languages.
– Words passed fluidly between languages, often changing subtly in spelling, pronunciation, and meaning along the way.
– Place names and color terms commonly shifted from one language to another during centuries of trade and conquest.
– The fruit originated in Asia but wasn’t widely known in Europe until the 1500s, so older European languages had no need for the word.
– The color term evolved after the fruit; colors were categorized differently in ancient times.
When Did “Orange” Enter English?
The word “orange” has been traced back in English to the early 16th century. The earliest known recorded uses in English are:
– 1512: A cloth dyed with an orange color is mentioned.
– 1542: A reference is made to oranges the fruit.
– 1542: “Orangecolor” is used to describe a banner.
Earlier English terms for the fruit included the words citron, pomelo, and narange. Linguists believe Middle English adopted orange in the early 1500s from Old French via Middle French orenge.
Distinguishing Between Fruit, Color, and Tree
In English, orange can refer to the fruit, the color, or the tree:
– As a noun referring to the round, orange-colored citrus fruit, it emerged in the early 1500s.
– As an adjective for the color, it also appeared in the early 1500s.
– As a noun indicating the tree that bears oranges, it arose by the late 1500s.
Other languages also went through a process of distinguishing between these meanings. Early French had pomme d’orenge meaning “orange fruit” and simply orenge for the tree.
When Were Oranges Introduced?
Oranges originated in Asia and were brought to Europe after the Crusades. Here are some key dates:
– 500 BCE: Citrus fruits like oranges were already being cultivated in China.
– 1st century BCE: Oranges had been spread to India and the Mediterranean by traders.
– 1st century CE: Romans began cultivating oranges.
– 1100s: Italian traders introduced sweet oranges to Europe from India.
– 1300s: Portuguese brought oranges to Europe from China.
– 1400s: Spanish and Portuguese spread orange trees around the Mediterranean.
So by the time the English word orange emerged in the 1500s, Europeans were already somewhat familiar with the fruit.
When Did the Color Term Emerge?
The use of “orange” as a color term followed the introduction of the fruit:
– Before orange, the English word was ġeolurēad (“yellow-red”) for the color between yellow and red.
– In Old English, the color was referred to as ġeolucitron (“yellow citron” fruit).
– 1500s: With oranges available, orange gradually replaced terms like ġeolucitron to refer to the orange color.
– 1540s: Orange was well established to mean both the fruit and color in English.
Which Came First: Fruit or Color?
The evidence indicates the fruit term orange came before the color term orange:
– Orange fruits predate the European use of “orange” as a word. Cultivation had spread widely before oranges or the term entered English in the 1500s.
– The earliest known uses of “orange” in English refer to the fruit or fruit tree.
– Early descriptions of the orange color in English compare it to the fruit, like “citron or orange tawny.”
– Languages had color words like yellow-red before orange fruit introduced a more exact term.
So the word orange stems from the prior existence of the fruit, with the color term evolving later as a convenient abbreviation.
Conclusion
In summary, the intricate origins of the word “orange” reflect global interconnectivity spanning Europe to Asia. Though its exact derivation is uncertain, orange color and fruit were distinguished in multiple languages by the 1500s when orange entered English. Linguistic evidence confirms the orange fruit preceded the color lexically. Oranges from Asia had spread for centuries before orange emerged in Middle English, with the color term following as oranges became better known. So oranges did indeed give rise to oranges.