Tidbit #34 - May 25, 2011

Fruits have some strange names... Especially the grapefruit. Why the weird name? It has nothing to do with the little elliptical fruit... Right?

Question: Why is a grapefruit called a grapefruit?


Answer: Huh.. I learned something new today. (As I strive to do thrice every day) We've got a special source: loc.gov. Here's your quoted answer:

Most botanists agree that the grapefruit is a cross between a Pummelo (see http://pas.byu.edu/pas100/pummelo.htm) and a sweet orange (see http://www.floridata.com/ref/C/citr_sin.cfm.) 

Grapefruit, like all citrus fruit, is a Hesperidum, or a large modified berry with a thick rind.

If you see grapefruit growing on a tree, you will notice that they grow in clusters. It is suggested that these clusters resemble the shape of large yellow grapes and so the fruit was called a grapefruit. Another explanation is that the premature grapefruit looks similar in shape to unripe green grapes.

I wish all of the sites gave condensed answers so I wouldn't have to come up with one. Quoted from loc.gov, here is your condensed answer:

It is believed that the name refers to the manner in which grapefruit grows in clusters on a tree.

Peculiar, isn't it? They're like Goliath's grapes.