Etymology From Middle English sorel, from Old French sorel, surele (“sorrel”), from Old French sur (“sour”), of Germanic origin, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *sūraz (“sour”); equivalent to sour + -el (diminutive suffix). Compare Old English sūre (“sorrel”), Icelandic súra (“sorrel”), Dutch zuring (“dock (plant), sorrel”). More at sour.
1
Any of various plants with acidic leaves of the genus Rumex, especially
2
Rumex acetosa (common sorrel, garden sorrel), sometimes used as a salad vegetable.
At the greenmarket, it’s still mostly potatoes and apples. There are no tender greens, fava beans, peas, asparagus, artichokes, sorrel, rhubarb or early strawberries. Those harbingers of the season are said to be full of chi, or qi, the Chinese word for life force. We’re craving them as we’re craving lighter, brighter-tasting meals, food that is greener and fresher.2013 April 2, David Tanis, “Hurry Up, Spring”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 02 Apr 2013, Dining & Wine:
3
Members of genus Oxalis or family Oxalidaceae, woodsorrels.
4
The roselle, Hibiscus sabdariffa.
5
A drink, consumed especially in the Caribbean around Christmas, made from the flowers of Hibiscus sabdariffa: hibiscus tea.
Now, many people drink alcohol, but when I was a child I remember drinking sorrel, ginger beer and drinks made from fresh fruits such as soursop and passion-fruit. Sorrel was prepared over a long period, not as quickly as it is now.2007, African and Caribbean Celebrations, →ISBN, page 56:
For instance, one day we were sitting on the porch, looking down at the lagoon and the yachts from all over the world. He was drinking ginger beer mixed with rum, and I was drinking sorrel. No rum. Out of nowhere, he proposed.2009, C. C. Alick, Dancing with the Yumawalli: Inspired by True Events, page 62:
1 more example
Joy and the parents did not go either; we spent a quiet day at home, eating roast chicken and stuffing with our own green-gungu rice and peas, and drinking sorrel.2012, Claudette Beckford-Brady, Sweet Home, Jamaica, page 390:
Derived terms
30 termsalpine sheep's sorrel, alpine sorrel, buckler sorrel, Cape sorrel, field sorrel, French sorrel, grassleaf sorrel, Guinea sorrel, heartwing sorrel, Indian sorrel, Jamaican sorrel, Krause's sorrel, lavender sorrel, leaf-shield sorrel, maiden sorrel, mountain sorrel, narrow-leaved sorrel, red sorrel, redwood sorrel, salt of sorrel, scurvy-grass sorrel, sea sorrel, sheep sorrel, shield-leaf sorrel, sorrel tree, tree sorrel, upright yellow-sorrel, wood sorrel, woodsorrel, yellow wood sorrel
Etymology From Middle English *sorel, from Middle French *sorel, sorrel, surrel, from Middle 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 (diminutive suffix). Cognate with Middle Dutch soor (“dry”), Old High German sōrēn (“to become dry”), and Old English sēar (“withered, barren”). See also sere.
1
Of a brown colour, with a tint of red. (especially: a sorrel horse)
A little harmless gossip ensued on various themes, such as where old Aunt Sally got her new red head-kerchief, and how "Missis was a going to give Lizzy that spotted muslin gown, when she 'd got her new berage made up;" and how Mas'r Shelby was thinking of buying a new sorrel colt, that was going to prove an addition to the glories of the place.1851 June – 1852 April, Harriet Beecher Stowe, chapter 4, in Uncle Tom’s Cabin; or, Life among the Lowly, volume I, Boston, Mass.: John P[unchard] Jewett & Company; Cleveland, Oh.: Jewett, Proctor & Worthington, published 20 March 1852, →OCLC, page 50:
sorrel
noun
Etymology From Middle English *sorel, from Middle French *sorel, sorrel, surrel, from Middle 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 (diminutive suffix). Cognate with Middle Dutch soor (“dry”), Old High German sōrēn (“to become dry”), and Old English sēar (“withered, barren”). See also sere.