oolong
UK[ˈuːlɒŋ]US[ˈuːlɔːŋ]
n
A type of dark tea, originally from China, that is partially fermented, giving it a flavor between green and black tea.
Etymology
The word 'oolong' entered English in the early 19th century from the Chinese term wūlóng (烏龍), literally meaning "black dragon." This name likely refers to the dark, long, twisted shape of the tea leaves, which were thought to resemble mythical dragons. The term was transliterated into English based on its pronunciation in the Southern Chinese Min Nan dialect. As a loanword, it retains its original semantic concept but functions as a simplex noun in English, specifically denoting this distinct category of partially oxidized tea.
Analysis
This word is a loanword from Chinese (Min Nan dialect) into English. It is not meaningfully segmentable using English or Indo-European morpheme analysis.
Examples
The rich, floral notes of this oolong tea are highly prized by connoisseurs.
She prefers oolong because its flavor is less astringent than black tea.
The process of making oolong involves wilting the leaves under the sun and then bruising them to start oxidation.