Limequats

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A hybrid citrus fruit resulting from the cross of a lime and a kumquat, characterized by its small size and tangy flavor
2. A small, oval fruit with a tangy flavor that combines attributes of both limes and kumquats, often used in culinary dishes
3. An edible fruit that merges the sharpness of limes with the sweetness of kumquats, typically enjoyed fresh or in preserves

Etymology: "Limequats" is the plural of "limequat," a citrus hybrid whose name is a blend of two fruits: the lime and the kumquat. The kumquat itself is a small citrus with an edible peel and a sharp-sweet pulp, and the blend keeps the lime's tartness at the front while borrowing the kumquat's small size and thin, sweet rind. The word follows a familiar pattern in fruit naming, where growers and sellers combine the names of parent fruits into one label. The result describes a hybrid by its ancestry, so the name itself tells you what went into the fruit.