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relish

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relish¹

  • /ˈɹɛlɪʃ/ Canada, US, UK
  • /ˈɹɛlɪʃ/ California
  • [ˈɹælɪʃ] California
  • /ˈɹelɪʃ/ Australia
  • /ˈɹeləʃ/ New Zealand
  • /ˈɾɛlɪʃ/ Scotland, Wales
  • /ˈɻɛlɪʃ/ Northern Ireland

Rhymes with -ɛlɪʃ

Where it comes from

The noun is a variant of release (“(obsolete) odour, scent”), from Middle English reles, relese (“odour, scent; taste; efficacy, power”), probably from Anglo-Norman reles, relais, or Old French reles, relais (“that which is left behind, remainder, residue”), from relaisser, relaschier (“to liberate, release; to relax”) (modern French relâcher), from Latin relaxāre, the present active infinitive of relaxō (“to stretch out or widen again, loosen, slacken; (figurative) to ease, relax”), from re- (prefix meaning ‘again; back, backwards’) + laxō (“to release, undo; to relax”) (from laxus (“spacious, wide; loose, slack”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)leg- (“to slacken; to tire out”)) + -ō (suffix forming regular first-conjugation verbs)). Doublet of release.

The verb is derived from the noun.

noun relishes · rellish

  1. obsolete, uncountable Flavour or taste; (countable) an instance of this. Much pleasure we have lost while we abstained / From this delightful fruit, nor known till now / True relish, tasting.
  2. countable, figuratively, obsolete Followed by for: one's liking or taste for something; a fondness. I have a relish for moderate praise, because it bids fair to be judicious.
  3. countable, figuratively, obsolete A small amount; a tinge, a trace.

    Similar: ace, atom, thought, atomy, aught, bissel, continental, bit, crumb, glimpse, dab, damn · Opposite: abundance, battalion, arseload, assload, bellyload, boatload, brimful, busload, bucketful, bucketload, butt-ton, bumload

  4. figuratively, obsolete, uncountable Ability to taste or (figurative) enjoy.
  5. figuratively, obsolete, uncountable Particular quality; (countable) an instance of this; a characteristic or quality. [T]hat Air of piety to the Gods ſhould ſhine thro' the Poem, vvhich ſo viſibly appears in all the vvorks of antiquity: And it ought to preſerve ſome reliſh of the old vvay of vvriting; the connections ſhould be looeſ, the narrations and decſriptions ſhort, and the periods conciſe.
  6. broadly, uncountable, in the negative Enjoyment of flavour or taste; (countable) an instance of this.
  7. broadly, figuratively, uncountable, in the negative Enjoyment of something pleasant; (countable) an instance of this. Jews and Israel are not synonymous; nor is support for Palestine synonymous with anti-Semitism; nor is questioning the orthodoxy of the Republican party, which the majority of us do with relish, an insult to Jewry.
  8. archaic, broadly, uncountable, in the negative Appetizing or pleasant flavour or taste; (countable) an instance of this.
  9. archaic, broadly, figuratively, uncountable, in the negative Pleasant quality; (countable) an instance of this. When liberty is gone, / Life grows insipid, and has lost its relish.
  10. broadly, countable A savoury dish or course of dishes, especially one accompanying rather than forming the main part of a meal; an appetizer, a side dish.
  11. broadly, countable, figuratively, uncountable A characteristic or quality which accompanies another thing.
  12. broadly, countable, uncountable A condiment or sauce added to food for a spicy or tangy flavour; specifically, one made with chopped, pickled fruit or vegetables. Congressmen gleefully wolfed down every imaginable version of the hot dog – smoked kielbasas, jumbo grillers, Big & Juicy's, kosher dogs and spiced dogs – topped with every imaginable condiment – hot mustard, sweet mustard, jalapenos, spaghetti sauce, regular relish, corn relish, maple syrup salsa a

verb relishes · relishing · relished · relish

  1. transitive To give (something) (a pleasant) flavour or taste; to make appetizing. The olde man, which marrieth a yonge Wyfe, is ſure of this ſowre ſauce, to relliſh his ſwete Imaginations: […]
  2. also, figuratively, reflexive, sometimes, transitive, in the negative To take delight or pleasure in (someone or oneself, or something). He relishes their time together.

    Similar: appreciate, delight in, enjoy, like, revel in

  3. obsolete, transitive To eat or taste (drink, food, etc.). [S]he being not vnprouided of ſtrong poyſon at that inſtant, in the Popes outward chamber ſo mingled it, that when his Grand-ſublimity-taſter came to reliſh it, he ſunke downe ſtark dead on the pauement.
  4. obsolete, transitive To provide (someone, or their appetite, mouth, stomach, etc.) with something appetizing or tasty. [T]o relliſh the pallat of lickeriſh expectation, and withall to giue an Item how ſudden a ſlabber this ruffianly ſwaggerer (Death) is, […]
  5. figuratively, obsolete, transitive To appreciate or understand (something). Giue me a huſband that vvill fill mine armes, / Of ſteddie iudgement, quicke and nimble ſenſe: / Fooles reliſh not a Ladies excellence.
  6. figuratively, obsolete, transitive To experience (something); also (rare), to feel (something). VVe poore commons (vvho taſting vvarre, are made to relliſh nothing but taxes) can do nothing but grieue, to ſee things vnlavvful practiſed, to obtein things impoſſible.
  7. figuratively, obsolete, transitive To have a particular opinion about (someone or something); to receive, to regard. VVhich inſolent ſpeech the Engliſh Biſhops reliſhed ſo harſhly, that they preſently vvith one voyce threatned to accurſe and excommunicate by name the Kings principall vvicked Counſellers; […]
  8. figuratively, obsolete, transitive To have a tinge or trace of (something). This vvas Theatricall vvit, right Stage-jeſting, and reliſhing a Play-houſe, invented for ſcorne, and laughter; […]
  9. figuratively, obsolete, transitive To provide (someone) with something delightful or pleasant; to delight, to gratify, to please.
  10. figuratively, intransitive Followed by in: to take delight or pleasure.
  11. intransitive, obsolete To have a particular (specifically, a pleasant) flavour or taste. [G]ood ſalt cannot relyſh in ſo vnſauory a mouth, […]
  12. figuratively, intransitive, obsolete To have a particular (specifically, a favourable) characteristic or quality. But if any ſhall inquire farther as concerning Thetis, my aunſwere muſt then relliſh after the Oracle at Delphos, that euermore left the certaintie of thinges to vncertaine euentes, and howſoeuer it hapned with or contrarie to expectation, yet ſtill the euent made good the oracle: […]
  13. figuratively, intransitive, obsolete To have a tinge or trace of something. You ſhould not haue beleeu'd me, for vertue cannot ſo e[n]oculat our old ſtock, but vve ſhall reliſh of it, I loued you not.
  14. figuratively, intransitive, obsolete To provide delight or pleasure.

relish²

  • /ˈɹɛlɪʃ/ Canada, US, UK
  • /ˈɹɛlɪʃ/ California
  • [ˈɹælɪʃ] California
  • /ˈɹelɪʃ/ Australia
  • /ˈɹeləʃ/ New Zealand
  • /ˈɾɛlɪʃ/ Scotland, Wales
  • /ˈɻɛlɪʃ/ Northern Ireland

Rhymes with -ɛlɪʃ

Where it comes from

The noun is derived from Late Middle English relese (“projection of a wall”), probably from Middle French relais or Old French relais (“projection of masonry at the base of a wall”), a specific use of reles, relais (“that which is left behind, remainder, residue”): see further at etymology 1. Doublet of release.

The verb is derived from the noun.

noun relishes

  1. obsolete A projecting component. Forject: m[asculine]. A iutting, or leaning out, or ouer; a relliſh, or out-footing.
  2. broadly In a wooden frame: the projection or shoulder around, or at the side of, a tenon (“projecting member made to insert into a mortise”), used to strengthen a mortise-and-tenon joint. The Teazle Tennons are made at right Angles to thoſe vvhich are made on the Poſts to go into the Raiſons, and the Reliſh, or Cheats of theſe Teazle Tennons ſtand up vvithin an Inch and a ½ of the top of the Raiſon, […]

verb relishes · relishing · relished

  1. transitive To add one or more relishes (noun etymology 2, noun sense 2) to (a tenon, piece of wood, etc.). At Fig. 13 I show a housed string between newels. Here the string is double tenoned into the shanks of both newels, also relished between tenons and pinned into the shank.

relish³

  • /ˈɹɛlɪʃ/ Canada, US, UK
  • /ˈɹɛlɪʃ/ California
  • [ˈɹælɪʃ] California
  • /ˈɹelɪʃ/ Australia
  • /ˈɹeləʃ/ New Zealand
  • /ˈɾɛlɪʃ/ Scotland, Wales
  • /ˈɻɛlɪʃ/ Northern Ireland

Rhymes with -ɛlɪʃ

Where it comes from

The noun is probably derived partly:

* from release (“(obsolete) odour, scent”), from Middle English reles, relese (“odour, scent; taste; efficacy, power”); and

* from relish (“one’s liking or taste for something”).

See further at etymology 1. The verb is probably derived from the noun.

noun relishes

  1. historical A type of ornamentation comprising one or more trills. O Gad! there's a flat Note! / There's art! hovv ſurprizingly the Key changes! / O lavv [Lord]! there's a double reliſh! I ſvvear, Sir, you have the ſvveeteſt little Finger in England!

verb relishes · relishing · relished

  1. obsolete, transitive To sing (a song or tune); specifically, in a manner where there are tremulous changes of tone; to trill, to warble. Val[entine]. VVhy, hovv knovv you that I am in loue? / Speed. Marry by theſe ſpeciall markes: firſt you haue learn'd (like Sir Protheus) to vvreath your Armes like a Male-content: to relliſh a Loue-ſong, like a Robin-red-breaſt: to vvalke alone like one that had the peſtilence: to ſigh, like a Schoo

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: sapidity, savor, flavour, savour, flavor, gusto, zestfulness, enjoy, tang, smack, bask, zest, delight, rejoice, gladness, joy

Translations

Every language

noun appetizing or pleasant flavour or taste; an instance of this

日本語風味 fūmi
中文滋味 zīwèi
हिन्दीतड़का taṛkā, छौंक cha͠uk, बघार baghār
Portuguêsgosto
DeutschAroma, Genuß, Geschmack
Русскийвкус vkus, за́пах zápax

noun pleasant quality; an instance of this

हिन्दीतड़का taṛkā, छौंक cha͠uk, बघार baghār
Portuguêsiguaria
DeutschQualität, Geschmack, Eigenart, Besonderheit, Charakteristik
Italianogusto
Русскийвкус vkus, при́вкус prívkus

noun condiment or sauce added to food for a spicy or tangy flavour

Españolsalsa / condimento de pepinillos
हिन्दीचटनी caṭnī
Portuguêscompota
Françaisrelish
DeutschChutney, Relish, Soße, Würze, Gemüse, Gemüsesalat
Italianocondimento
Русскийприпра́ва pripráva

verb (transitive) to give (something) (a pleasant) flavour or taste

Françaisparfumer
Deutscharomatisieren

verb (transitive) to take delight or pleasure in (someone or oneself, or something); (intransitive) to take delight or pleasure

Españolsaborear
中文享受 xiǎngshòu
Deutschbegeistert sein, Gefallen finden an, genußvoll tun, mit Begeisterung tun, mit Freude tun, mit Genuß tun
Русскийнаслаждаться naslaždatʹsja

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MLA

"relish." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/relish. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

relish. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/relish

Chicago

"relish." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/relish.

BibTeX
@misc{relish_2026,
  title = {relish},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/relish},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}