Clementine

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈklɛməntaɪn/

Definitions

1. A seedless fruit of the citrus family that is known for its sweet flavor and smooth texture, often enjoyed fresh or in salads
2. A small citrus fruit that is sweet and easy to peel, often eaten as a snack or used in desserts
3. A juicy, sweet fruit that resembles a tangerine and lacks seeds, commonly consumed fresh

Etymology: The clementine owes its name to a missionary who, by most accounts, first bred it. Father Clément Rodier, a French missionary in Algeria, is said to have developed the fruit in the late nineteenth century, and the variety took his first name as its own. Its English form is borrowed from French "clémentine," a word built from "Clément" plus the French suffix "-ine," which forms feminine nouns, here used to name a fruit after the man who produced it. The name thus carries a small monument to one person's gardening. Rodier's given name, a common Christian name meaning "merciful," is preserved in a fruit that is now sold across the world under a title that, by surface analysis, is simply "Clement" with a suffix attached. The pattern is typical of nineteenth-century horticulture, where new varieties were often named after their breeders or patrons.

Synonyms: mandarin, orange