English
Key lime
Key lime comes from English key ‘an island in a chain of islands’, and goes back to Taíno cayo.
- Taínomoderncayo‘small island’
- Spanishc. 1500–presentsame form‘key (island)’
- English1500–presentkey‘an island in a chain of islands’
- EnglishtodayKey lime
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Taínomoderncayo‘small island’
- Spanishc. 1500–presentsame form‘key (island)’
- English1500–presentkey‘an island in a chain of islands’
- EnglishtodayKey lime
Linked words
through Spanish cayo ‘key (island)’
Today it means
noun A small yellow (when ripe, usually sold green) lime, of hybrid Citrus × aurantiifolia, especially those from southern Florida.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Taíno cayo / Key lime