The Intriguing Stories Behind 18 Summer Fruit Names

Summer brings with it holidays, poolside fun, barbecues, and an abundance of fresh, seasonal fruits. The fascinating and often unexpected histories behind the names of these berries, stone fruits, and melons are as captivating as their flavors.

Apricot

The term apricot made its debut in the 16th century as abrecock, a word that might sound like it belongs in a Roald Dahl story. English adopted abrecock from Portuguese or Spanish, which in turn derived it from the Arabic al-barquq, meaning “the apricot.”

The history of apricot stretches even further back. Arabic borrowed al-barquq from the Greek praikokion, which itself originated from the Latin praecox, meaning “cooked before.” The Romans believed this early-ripening fruit was a type of peach. As noted in the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), an earlier Latin term for the fruit was prunum or malum Armeniacum, the “Armenian apple,” reflecting its historical cultivation in Armenia.

The French transformed the name into abricot, shaping the modern English spelling of apricot. The Latin word apricus, meaning “sunny,” also likely played a role, as the fruit was thought to thrive and ripen under sunny conditions.

Peach

The term peach is believed to have first appeared in English around 1184 as the surname Pecche, which likely derives from the French word for “sin.” While fruit has long been symbolically linked to sin, the word peach as we know it emerged around 1400, with pechis and later peche referring to the “peach tree.”

The English peche was borrowed from French, which in turn originated from the Latin persica, an abbreviation of Persicum malum, meaning “Persian apple.”

By 1900, peachy became U.S. slang for “excellent” or, when describing women, “attractive.” This usage likely draws inspiration from the fruit’s appealing shape or vibrant color, as perceived by admirers.

Nectarine

A nectarine is essentially a peach without its fuzz. The term nectarine first appeared in the early 17th century and stems from the adjective nectarine, meaning “as sweet as nectar.” The word nectar comes from Latin, which borrowed it from the Greek nektar, the divine drink of the gods. Some linguists suggest nectar combines nek- (“death”) and tar- (“overcoming”), referencing its mythical ability to grant eternal life. Be sure to grab plenty of nectarines this summer.

Plum

While a prune is a dried plum, the word plum might have evolved from prune. This ancient term, appearing as plum in Old English, can be traced to Middle Dutch and Middle Low German prume, as well as Old High German pfruma.

The exact origins of these Germanic terms for plum are debated. Some believe early Germanic languages borrowed the Latin prunum, meaning “plum,” which may have Near Eastern roots. Prunum also gave rise to the English word prune.

Originally, plum and prune referred to the same fruit: the plum. Their meanings split in the 1400s with the term dried prunes. Later, they diverged further through metaphor. Prune became slang for a “grumpy person” and later an “elderly person,” while plum came to signify something “highly desirable,” as in a plum job. Earlier, plum was British slang for 100,000 pounds, a reference to the sweetness of sugar plums.

Cherry

What links cherries and peas? Beyond their small, round shape, both are the result of linguistic errors. Middle English misinterpreted cherise, borrowed from French, as a plural. Though incorrect, speakers created the singular form cheri, which evolved into cherry. A similar fate befell pea, which originated from the singular pease.

The French cherise supplanted the Old English ciris. Unlike peach, cherry appears in an ancient surname: Chyrimuth, meaning “cherry mouth.” (Cherries have long been linked to lips.) Both cherise and ciris trace back to the Latin cerasum, “cherry tree,” and the Greek kerasos. Kerasos may refer to a town in Pontus, an ancient region near the Black Sea in Turkey. Romans credited their statesman Lucullus with introducing cherries from there—though it’s possible the town was named after the fruit.

Strawberry

Botanically, the strawberry isn’t classified as a berry. But does the straw- in its name relate to straw? Etymologists remain unsure. As the Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology notes, “No similar term exists in other Germanic languages, and the origin of the name is unclear.” Some theories propose its “seeds” (achenes, the true fruit) resemble scattered straw, while others point to its thin stems (“runners”) as resembling straw stalks.

Raspberry

Similar to the strawberry, the raspberry isn’t technically a berry in botanical terms. And just like the word strawberry, the origin of its rasp- remains a mystery.

The term raspberry appeared in English relatively late, first recorded in the early 1600s. An earlier variant, raspis-berry, might offer some insight. In Middle English, raspise referred to a sweet, pink wine, possibly derived from the Anglo-Latin vinum raspeys. However, the meaning of raspeys is still unclear. Theories include the French rasper, meaning “to scrape,” possibly referencing the fruit’s texture, or an Old Walloon term for “thicket.”

The other meaning of raspberry, the sound made by blowing on someone’s stomach, comes from raspberry tart, a rhyming slang term for “fart.”

Gooseberries, Elderberries, Mulberries, Loganberries, Boysenberries, and Blackberries

The name gooseberries may have no connection to geese, and elderberries aren’t linked to older individuals. While the animal reference in goose- remains unexplained, the elder- in elderberries relates to the elder plant, though its name’s origin is complex. Mulberries derive from the Greek moron, meaning mulberry, which also appears in the word sycamore.

Other berry-like fruits have straightforward origins: loganberries and boysenberries are named after their creators. As for blackberries, the name is simple—they’re black.

Melon

Like blackberry, the name watermelon is simple, referencing its watery content. However, the word melon has a more complex origin, essentially meaning “apple pumpkin.”

The term melon entered English via French and Latin, tracing back to the Greek melopepon, which combines melon (“apple”) and pepon (“gourd”). Pepon derives from a Greek verb meaning “to cook,” reflecting the idea that melons ripen under the sun. This root also appears in the first part of pumpkin, with the -kin being a diminutive suffix, similar to napkin, which is handy when eating melons.

Honeydew

This melon’s sweet, pale green flesh earned it the name honeydew, reminiscent of the sugary liquid insects secrete on plants. Folk etymology suggests people once thought this honey-like substance formed naturally, like dew. The term honeydew melon entered English relatively late, with its first recorded use in 1916, according to the OED.

Cantaloupe

This melon traces its roots to the Middle East. According to legend, it was transported from Armenia to Cantalupo, a papal estate near Rome, where it was cultivated. The name Cantalupo, meaning “singing wolf,” combines Latin words for “sing” (cantare) and “wolf” (lupus), inspired by tales of wolves howling in the area. While most etymologists agree the name likely comes from a place called Cantalupo, the papal connection might be fictional. Regardless, English speakers didn’t embrace this fruit until the mid-1700s.

Lemon and Lime

These citrus fruits are perfect for summer drinks, but their names come from unexpected origins. Both entered English via French, Spanish, and Arabic, ultimately deriving from the Persian limun, a term for “citrus.” Lemon appeared around 1400, predating lime by over two centuries in English records.

A lemon can also refer to a defective car, often sold as if it were in good condition. The term for something “inferior” or “faulty” being called a lemon dates to the early 20th century. This slang may stem from American criminal jargon of the 1900s, where a clever con artist could extract value from a lemon, meaning a “sucker” or “loser.” Alternatively, it might reflect the sourness of lemons, contrasting with the delightful flavors and histories of the fruits discussed here.

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