almond

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈɑː.mənd/ (UK); /ˈɑ(l).mənd/, /ˈæ(l).mənd/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English almande,^[2][3] borrowed from Old French almande, alemande, amande,^{[2][4][5][3][6]} from Late Latin amandula,^{[2][4][5][3][6]} an alteration of Latin amygdala,^{[2][4][5][3][6]} from Ancient Greek ἀμυγδάλη (amugdálē),^{[2][4][5][3][6]} a word of unknown origin, perhaps Semitic.^[5] The Latin form was altered in Medieval Latin under the influence of amandus “lovable”.^[4][5] The initial al- probably arose through association with Spanish almendra and the many Romance words beginning with the Arabic article al-.^[4][5][6] Late Old English had amygdales “almonds”.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The kernel of the fruit of the almond tree (before 1300 in the OED; probably about 1300 in Barnhart; c. 1300 in Etymonline).^[7][4][5]

Semantic evolution

The tree itself is called almond from 1697,^[7] and an almond comfit from 1855.^[7] The word was applied to anything of the almond's oval shape,^[7][2] and from 1870 to eyes of that shape.^[7][5] It also names a pale tan colour.^[2][8]

Timeline

• before 1300 – the almond kernel.^[7][4]
• 1697 – the almond tree.^[7]
• 1853 – an oval with pointed ends.^[7]
• 1870 – almond-shaped eyes.^[7]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. The oval kernel of the fruit of the almond tree, eaten as a nut or pressed for its oil.
2. The tree that bears it, Prunus dulcis, native to Asia and North Africa, related to the peach, with pink flowers.
3. Any of several other plants with almond-like seeds.
4. Something having the oval shape of an almond.
5. A pale tan colour.

Adjective

1. Of the colour, taste or shape of an almond; made or flavoured with almonds.

Word family

• almondlike
• almond-eyed
• almond-shaped
• almond milk
• almond oil
• bitter almond
• Jordan almond

Related words

• amygdala
• marzipan

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
3. ^ a b c d e Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
4. ^ a b c d e f g h Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
6. ^ a b c d e Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ a b c d e f g h i Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
8. ^ Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House