Cumquat

/ˈkʌmkwɒt/ noun

Definition

An alternative spelling of kumquat, a small citrus fruit with a sweet rind and sour inside, eaten whole.

Etymology

From Chinese 'kam kwat,' where 'kam' means gold and 'kwat' means orange; the spelling 'cumquat' represents an older English transliteration of the Cantonese pronunciation.

Kelly Says

The kumquat/cumquat spelling confusion is a perfect example of how English borrowed a Chinese word before standardizing the romanization—both spellings are 'correct' depending on when and where you learned the word.

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