sorrel

views updated May 29 2018

sor·rel¹ / ˈsôrəl/ • n. a European plant (genus Rumex) of the dock family, with arrow-shaped leaves that are used in salads and cooking for their acidic flavor. See also wood sorrel. sor·rel² • n. a horse with a light reddish-brown coat. ∎ [usu. as adj.] a light reddish-brown color: a sorrel mare with four white socks.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

sorrel

views updated Jun 27 2018

sorrel A common wild plant (Rumex acetosa); the leaves have a strong acid flavour, and are cooked together with spinach or cabbage, used to make soup (see borscht), and used in salads. See also Rosella.

A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition DAVID A. BENDER

sorrel

views updated Jun 08 2018

sorrel1 (leaves of) plant of the genus Rumex, having a sour taste. XIV. — OF. sorele, surele (mod. dial. surelle), f. sur sour — Gmc. *sūraz; see SOUR, -EL2
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The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

sorrel

views updated Jun 08 2018

sorrel (dock) Herbaceous perennial plant native to temperate regions. It has large leaves that can be cooked as a vegetable, and small green or brown flowers. Height: to 2m (6ft). Family Polygonaceae; genus Rumex, especially Rumex acetosa.

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