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cit·ron

(sĭtrən)

a. A thorny evergreen shrub or small tree (Citrus medica) native to India and widely cultivated for its large lemonlike fruits that have a thick warty rind.

b. The fruit of this plant, whose rind is often candied and used in confections and fruitcakes.

2. A globose watermelon (Citrullus lanatus var. citroides) having white flesh that is candied or pickled.

3. A grayish-green yellow.

[Middle English, from Old French, alteration (influenced by limon, lemon) of Latin (mālum) citreum, citron (fruit), from citrus, citron tree.]

citron adj.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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