The word "sorrel" is spelled with double letters "rr" to represent the distinct pronunciation of the letter "r" in this word. In IPA phonetic transcription, the word is represented as /ˈsɔː.rəl/. The first syllable is pronounced as "saw" and the second syllable is pronounced as "rel" with a distinct trilled "r" sound. "Sorrel" is a herbaceous plant with sour-tasting leaves that are often used as an ingredient in salads and soups. It is also a common name for a reddish-brown color.
Sorrel is a noun that can refer to two distinct definitions. In the context of botany, sorrel is a perennial herbaceous plant with slender arrow-shaped leaves. It belongs to the Polygonaceae family and is characterized by its sharp and tangy taste. The leaves are often used as a culinary ingredient in various dishes, particularly in salads, soups, and sauces. Sorrel leaves can also be boiled and brewed into a refreshing herbal tea. Additionally, the word "sorrel" can be used as an adjective to describe the color of a reddish-brown to chestnut-brown hue, resembling the color of the herbaceous plant's flowers. This adjective is commonly used to describe the reddish-brown coat color of certain animals, notably horses.
In the culinary world, sorrel describes a bright green, leafy vegetable with a tart and lemony flavor. The sorrel vegetable, also known as "common sorrel" or "garden sorrel," belongs to the genus Rumex and is part of the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae). Its leaves are typically slender, arrow-shaped, and can range in color from light green to dark green. Sorrel is frequently used in cooking to add a tangy taste and vibrant color to various dishes. It can be used raw in salads, wilted into stir-fries, or incorporated into soups, sauces, and stews. Notably, sorrel's tangy flavor is due to the presence of oxalic acid, which contributes to its unique and refreshing taste.
A plant of the genus Rumex, containing oxalic acid; it is used as a salad.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
• A plant like a dock, but having small leaves, which are sour or acid to the taste.
• Of the colour of the sorrel; of an obscure or faint reddish colour.
• A sort of yellowish-brown; salt of sorrel, so called because contained in the.iuice of the wood-sorrel.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "sorrel" has a complex etymology, with multiple possible origins.
One possible origin is from the Old English word "sūr", which meant "sour" or "sour-tasting". This is related to the modern English word "sour". Over time, "sūr" developed into the Middle English word "surel" or "sorrel", referring to sour-tasting herbs.
Another theory suggests that "sorrel" comes from the Old French word "surele" or "surele-mayde", meaning "sour maid". This term was applied to a plant with a sour or acidic taste, which eventually became associated with the herbaceous plant known as sorrel.
Additionally, the word "sorrel" can also be traced back to the Latin word "oxalis" or "acetosa", which referred to the sour-tasting herb.