marmalade

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a preserve made from citrus fruit, especially oranges

   He spread orange marmalade thickly on his toast.

Simplified etymology

Marmalade entered English in the late 15th century from Portuguese marmelada, meaning “quince jam.” It originally denoted a firm quince preserve rather than one made from oranges; the familiar citrus sense developed later. The story deriving the word from French marie malade, “ill Mary,” has no historical basis.

From Portuguese marmelada ('quince jam'), from marmelo ('quince'), from Latin melimēlum, from Ancient Greek melímēlon ('sweet apple'), a graft of apple on quince, from méli ('honey') + mêlon ('apple'). Originally a quince preserve.

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External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary