Sorrel

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈsɒɹəl/
• Rhymes: -ɒɹəl

From Middle English sorel, from Old French sorel, surele ("sorrel"), from Old French sur ("sour"), of origin, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *sūraz ("sour"); equivalent to sour + -el. Compare Old English sūre ("sorrel"), Icelandic súra ("sorrel"), Dutch zuring ("sorrel"). More at sour.

Full definition of sorrel

Noun

1. A kind of plant with acidic leaves, especially Rumex acetosa (common sorrel), sometimes used as a salad vegetable.

Derived terms

• mountain sorrel
• red sorrel
• salt of sorrel
• sheep sorrel
• sorrel tree
• wood sorrel

From Middle English *sorel, from Old French *sorel, sorrel, surrel, from Old French sor ("yellowish-brown, reddish-brown"), probably from Old Frankish *saur ("dried"), from Proto-Germanic *sauzaz ("dry"), from Proto-Indo-European *saus- ("dry, parched"); equivalent to sore("reddish-brown") + -el. Cognate with Middle Dutch soor ("dry"), Old High German sōrēn ("to become dry"), and Old English sēar ("withered, barren"). See also sere.

Noun

1. A brown colour, with a tint of red.

Adjective

1. Of a brown colour, with a tint of red. especially: a sorrel horse