olive
UK[ˈɒl.ɪv]US[ˈɑː.lɪv]
n
a small, oval fruit with a hard stone, green when unripe and black when ripe, used for food and for its oil
n
a greyish-green colour like that of an unripe olive
adj
having a greyish-green colour like that of an unripe olive
Etymology
the word 'olive' entered english in the late 12th century via old french 'olive', which itself came from latin 'olīva'. the latin term is believed to be a borrowing from the greek 'elaía', meaning 'olive tree' or 'olive fruit'. this greek word likely has a pre-greek, possibly aegean or anatolian, substrate origin, reflecting the fruit's deep roots in mediterranean culture. the semantic journey is direct, with the word consistently referring to the tree and its fruit, a cornerstone of agriculture, diet, and symbolism in the ancient world, a meaning it retains today.
Analysis
the word 'olive' is a simplex loanword from latin via french. its spelling and form have been borrowed as a whole unit.
Examples
she added some chopped black olives to the salad.
the walls were painted in a soothing shade of olive.
he wore an olive drab uniform.