cinnamon English · revision 1916

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈsɪnəmən/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It comes from Middle English ''cinamome'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(RHWU) [[der|fro|cinnamome]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) [[der|la|cinnamomum]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|grc|κιννάμωμον|tr=kinnámōmon]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) of Semitic origin, probably Phoenician;^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) compare Hebrew ''qinnāmôn''.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) Etymonline says the Greek ending was altered by folk etymology.^(Etymonline) The modern form follows Latin ''cinnamon'', from Late Greek ''kínnamon''.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In Barnhart, the spice, about 1390.^(Barnhart 1995) The OED first records the word as a term of endearment (c. 1386),^(OED 1989) the tree in 1398^(OED 1989) and the bark used as a spice about 1430.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The Latin word, too, was used as a term of endearment.^(Etymonline) The adjective, “of the color of cinnamon, light reddish brown”, is recorded from the 1680s.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Etymonline notes that the cinnamon sold in America is usually from the related [[cassia]] tree rather than true Ceylon cinnamon.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1386 – a term of endearment, now obsolete.^(OED 1989)

+ * about 1390 – the spice (Barnhart).^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1398 – the tree.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1680s – adjective, cinnamon-colored.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The dried, aromatic inner [[bark]] of certain tropical Asian trees, used as a [[spice]], often ground.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A tree yielding this bark, of the [[laurel]] family.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A light yellowish or reddish brown.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of a light reddish-brown color.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[cinnamic]]

+ * [[cinnamony]]

+ * [[cinnamon bun]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[cassia]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}