Limons

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A term for fine-grained silt or loess-rich earth typically found in arid regions; historically, the plural of a cultivated citrus fruit known for its tartness
2. Refers both to sedimentary deposits of wind-blown soil contributing to fertile plains; and a historical or dialectal plural form of a tangy yellow or green citrus fruit
3. Describes soil made up mostly of wind-deposited fine particles common in steppes or deserts; and, in archaic or regional contexts, multiple sour or acidic citrus fruits used in food and drink

Etymology: "Limons" is the plural of "limon", a word for wind-blown fine soil, the loose dust that drifts and settles in dry, open country. The singular form is the one that names the material, and the plural simply treats it as a collection of deposits spread across the landscape. The noun "limon" is borrowed from French, where "limon" is used for silt and alluvial mud, and it is likely connected to the Latin "limus", meaning mud or slime.

Synonyms: lemons, limes, citrons