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sorrel - 9 dictionary results
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sor⋅rel

1  [sawr-uhl, sor-]
Use sorrel in a Sentence
–noun
1. light reddish-brown.
2. a horse of this color, often with a light-colored mane and tail.
–adjective
3. of the color sorrel.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME < OF sorel, equiv. to sor brown (< Gmc) + -el dim. suffix; see -elle
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sor⋅rel

2  [sawr-uhl, sor-]
–noun
1. any of various plants belonging to the genus Rumex, of the buckwheat family, having edible acid leaves used in salads, sauces, etc.
2. any of various sour-juiced plants of the genus Oxalis. Compare wood sorrel.
3. any of various similar plants.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME sorell < OF surele, equiv. to sur sour (< Gmc; akin to OHG sūr sour) + -el dim. suffix; see -elle
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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sor·rel 1   (sôr'əl, sŏr'-)   
n.  
  1. Any of several plants of the genus Rumex, having acid-flavored leaves sometimes used as salad greens, especially R. acetosella, a widely naturalized Eurasian species. Also called dock4.
  2. Any of various plants of the genus Oxalis, having usually compound leaves with three leaflets.

[Middle English sorel, from Old French surele, from sur, sour, of Germanic origin.]
sor·rel 2   (sôr'əl, sŏr'-)   
n.  
  1. A brownish orange to light brown.
  2. A sorrel-colored horse or other animal.

[From Middle English sorel, sorrel-colored, from Old French, from sor, red-brown, of Germanic origin.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Sorrel

Sor"rel\, a. [F. saur, saure, OF. sor, sore, probably of Teutonic origin; cf. D. zoor dry, LG. soor; the meaning probably coming from the color of dry leaves. See Sear, a., and cf. Sorel.] Of a yellowish or redish brown color; as, a sorrel horse.

Sorrel

Sor"rel\, n. A yellowish or redish brown color.

Sorrel

Sor"rel\, n. [F. surelle, fr. sur sour, fr. OHG. s?r sour. See Sour.] (Bot.) One of various plants having a sour juice; especially, a plant of the genus Rumex, as Rumex Acetosa, Rumex Acetosella, etc.

Mountain sorrel. (Bot.) See under Mountain.

Red sorrel. (Bot.) (a) A malvaceous plant (Hibiscus Sabdariffa) whose acid calyxes and capsules are used in the West Indies for making tarts and acid drinks. (b) A troublesome weed (Rumex Acetosella), also called sheep sorrel.

Salt of sorrel (Chem.), binoxalate of potassa; -- so called because obtained from the juice of Rumex Acetosella, or Rumex Axetosa.

Sorrel tree (Bot.), a small ericaceous tree (Oxydendrum arboreum) whose leaves resemble those of the peach and have a sour taste. It is common along the Alleghanies. Called also sourwood.

Wood sorrel (Bot.), any plant of the genus Oxalis.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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sorrel  (adj.)
"reddish brown," c.1430, from M.Fr. sorel, from sor "yellowish-brown," probably from Frankish *saur "dried" (cf. M.Du. soor "dry," O.H.G. soren "to become dry," O.E. sear "withered, barren;" see sere). Perhaps a diminutive form.

sorrel  (n.)
"small perennial plant," c.1400, from O.Fr. surele (12c.), from sur "sour," from Frankish *sur (cf. O.H.G., O.E. sur "sour;" see sour). So called for the taste of its leaves.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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