Limetree

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A deciduous tree of the genus Tilia, valued for its heart-shaped leaves and fragrant clusters of pale flowers
2. Any tall shade tree of the linden family, known for sweet-smelling blossoms that attract bees
3. A broad-leaved tree bearing fragrant yellowish flowers, commonly planted along avenues and in parks

Etymology: Lime tree has nothing to do with the citrus fruit, despite the name. The "lime" here is an older English word, from Old English "lind", which meant the linden tree, the European lime (Tilia). Over time "lind" was worn down in speech and spelling, and in the 1500s "lind" and "line" were used interchangeably for this tree, the form "line" eventually giving the modern "lime". The "tree" was simply added to say which lime was meant. The confusion comes from the fruit. The citrus lime is a much later borrowing, arriving in English in the 1500s from French "lime", itself from Spanish "lima" or Arabic-derived sources, and it was not named after the tree. The two words collided, and in the 1600s the fruit was sometimes called a "limon" or "lemon" distinction was needed. English speakers ended up with two unrelated words that look identical.