sorrel
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sorrel¹
- /ˈsɒɹəl/ UK
- /ˈsɔɹəl/ US
- /ˈsɑɹəl/ US
Rhymes with -ɒɹəl
Where it comes from
From Middle English sorel, from Old French sorel, surele (“sorrel”), from Old French sur (“sour”), of Germanic origin, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *sūraz (“sour”); equivalent to sour + -el (diminutive suffix). Compare Old English sūre (“sorrel”), Icelandic súra (“sorrel”), Dutch zuring (“dock (plant), sorrel”). More at sour.
noun sorrels
- Any member of species of the genus Rumex of various plants with acidic leaves, especially
- common sorrel or garden sorrel (Rumex acetosa), sometimes used as a salad vegetable. At the greenmarket, it’s still mostly potatoes and apples. There are no tender greens, fava beans, peas, asparagus, artichokes, sorrel, rhubarb or early strawberries. Those harbingers of the season are said to be full of chi, or qi, the Chinese word for life force. We’re craving them as we’re cravin
- Any member of species of genus Oxalis or family Oxalidaceae, woodsorrels.
- A roselle, Hibiscus sabdariffa.
- A drink, consumed especially in the Caribbean around Christmas, made from the flowers of Hibiscus sabdariffa: hibiscus tea. Now, many people drink alcohol, but when I was a child I remember drinking sorrel, ginger beer and drinks made from fresh fruits such as soursop and passion-fruit. Sorrel was prepared over a long period, not as quickly as it is now.
sorrel²
- /ˈsɒɹəl/ UK
- /ˈsɔɹəl/ US
- /ˈsɑɹəl/ US
Rhymes with -ɒɹəl
Where it comes from
From Middle English *sorel, from Middle French *sorel, sorrel, surrel, from Middle French sor (“yellowish-brown, reddish-brown”), probably from Old Frankish *sauʀ(ī) (“dried”), from Proto-Germanic *sauzaz (“dry”); equivalent to sore (“reddish-brown”) + -el (diminutive suffix). Cognate with Middle Dutch soor (“dry”), Old High German sōrēn (“to become dry”), and Old English sēar (“withered, barren”). See also sere.
noun sorrels
-
A brown colour, with a tint of red.
Similar: chestnut
adjective
- Of a brown colour, with a tint of red. (especially: a sorrel horse) A little harmless gossip ensued on various themes, such as where old Aunt Sally got her new red head-kerchief, and how "Missis was a going to give Lizzy that spotted muslin gown, when she 'd got her new berage made up;" and how Mas'r Shelby was thinking of buying a new sorrel colt, that was going to
Sorrel³
proper noun
- A female given name.
Translations
Every language
noun any member of species of genus Rumex
| Español | acedera común, vinagrera |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 수영 suyeong |
| 日本語 | 蓚 suiba, 酸い葉 suiba |
| 中文 | 酸模 suānmó |
| Português | azeda, acetosa |
| Français | oseille |
| Deutsch | Ampfer, Sauerampfer |
| Italiano | acetosa, erba brusca |
| Ελληνικά | λάπατο lápato |
| Română | măcriș, acriș |
| Русский | щаве́ль ščavélʹ, ща́вель ščávelʹ |
| العربية | حُمَّاض بُسْتَانِيّ ḥummāḍ bustāniyy |
noun colour
| Español | alazán |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 薄赤褐色 ususekikasshoku |
| Português | canela |
| Français | alezan |
| Deutsch | Fuchs |
| Italiano | sauro |
| Ελληνικά | καστανοκόκκινος kastanokókkinos, κοκκινόμαυρος kokkinómavros |
| العربية | أَشْقَر ʔašqar |
adj colour
| 日本語 | 薄赤褐色の ususekikasshoku no |
|---|---|
| Português | canela, alazão |
| Deutsch | fuchsbraun |
| Ελληνικά | καστανοκόκκινος kastanokókkinos, κοκκινόμαυρος kokkinómavros |
| Română | roib |
| Русский | гнедо́й gnedój |
Talk about this word "sorrel." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/sorrel. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. sorrel. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/sorrel "sorrel." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/sorrel.Cite this
@misc{sorrel_2026,
title = {sorrel},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/sorrel},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
