lemon
UK[ˈlɛmən]US[ˈlɛmən]
n
A yellow citrus fruit with sour juice
n
A pale yellow color
n
Something (especially a manufactured product) that is defective or unsatisfactory
Etymology
The journey of the word 'lemon' is a story of trade and cultural exchange. It entered the European lexicon via the Arabic-speaking world, which had adopted it from Persian. The fruit itself followed the same routes, moving from its likely origins in Southeast Asia through the Middle East and into the Mediterranean. The modern English meaning of a defective item, dating from the early 20th century, metaphorically extends from the fruit's sometimes unpleasantly sour taste to describe an unsatisfactory product, particularly a car.
Analysis
The word 'lemon' is a simplex loanword. It entered English from Old French 'limon', which came from Arabic 'laymūn' or 'līmūn', itself from Persian 'līmū'. The ultimate origin is likely Austroasiatic or another Asian language family.
Examples
She added a slice of lemon to her glass of water.
The walls were painted a bright, cheerful lemon.
After just a month, the new car turned out to be a complete lemon.