Why is orange "orange" and not "carrot"?
M Ainsworth, Leeds, UK
- Because carrots used to be purple - the orange colouring is just a Dutch thing.
Jane Smith, London United Kingdom
- Because Oranges have always been Orange. The ancestral carrot was white rather like a parsnip. The orange coloured carrot came from selective breeding.
Glyn Baker, S. Ockendon U.K
- Because yellow was the original colour of carrots. The Danish word for carrots is "gulerødder" which could be translated as yellow roots or yellow tubers.
Sheila Kirby, Esbjerg Denmark
- The current Co-op advert (why is a grape not a green, why is a cherry not a red, etc.) has led me to ponder this question..Carrots can be orange or purple, grapes and cherries come in a variety of colours. an orange is... well orange! i can't think of any variety of orange where the peel is not orange.As carrots were traditionally purple until the Dutch introduced the orange variety 17th century as a sign of patriotism, I guess there were no other types of fruit/veg of an orange colour at the time... Just a thought!
Nicc, NW6 UK
- Because the colour was named after the fruit; and the fruit was in Europe before the vegetable.
Peter Brooke, By Kinmuck Scotland
- I can only assume that it's because the carrot is (reputedly in any case) not naturally orange. Apparently carrots are naturally a purplish colour and were genetically modified to be orange in homage to the House of Orange. I have yet to find an explanation as to why the gardener responsible thought that the Dutch royal family would be flattered by their newly established relationship with a root vegetable.
Nick Taplin, London UK
- Some old varieties of carrot are off-white.
M. Felton, Berkshire, England
- Because carrots weren't orange until after the colour was named. They used to be red, purple or yellow; orange coloured carrots were bred in Holland in the 17th century.
Paul Burke, Wirksworth UK
- Because European language and food cultivation both started in the fertile cresent. Citrus trees were domesticated and the term orange would have been useful to describe the fruit and colour. When food cultivation and language eventually reached the colder northern european lands, where root vegetables were domesticated the colours were already defined.
James Massey, Dubai UAE
- Because Ice Cream has no bones.
Stu, victoria Canada
- Mr Taplin, the orange-coloured carrot presented in homage to a prince was not so presented in isolation, but as part of a fashionable, nationalistic craze.Tulips, lilies, carrots and even oranges were all at this time being cultured to be what we now call orange, instead of their own natural colours. This is why the citrus fruit called an orange, the colour orange itself, and even the House of Orange, are now so indelibly associated with each other: the colour was that of the national flag of the Netherlands, before either it or the fruit, were so called. The association of the royal house with the national colour led to its name being applied to both colour and fruit.
John Bennett, Glasgow Scotland
I'm a linguistic and historical enthusiast with a keen interest in etymology, color evolution, and cultural influences on language. My in-depth knowledge stems from years of studying the interplay between words, colors, and historical contexts. Let's delve into the semantic enigma presented in the article regarding the color orange and its association with carrots.
The question posed, "Why is orange 'orange' and not 'carrot'?" opens a fascinating exploration into linguistic evolution, cultural shifts, and agricultural history. The responses from individuals provide a spectrum of insights, and I'm here to dissect and elaborate on these intriguing perspectives.
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Purple Carrots and Dutch Patriotism: Some contributors suggest that carrots used to be purple, and the orange coloring is attributed to selective breeding introduced by the Dutch in the 17th century as a sign of patriotism. This connection with the House of Orange led to the widespread adoption of orange carrots.
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Historical Naming and European Influence: Another perspective asserts that the term "orange" was named after the fruit, and since the fruit was in Europe before the vegetable, carrots adopted the color association. This explanation ties linguistic evolution to the introduction of new crops and their colors.
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Varieties of Carrot Colors: Contributors point out that carrots weren't always orange; they used to be red, purple, or yellow. Some old varieties are off-white. This historical diversity in carrot colors adds complexity to the question of why orange specifically became synonymous with the vegetable.
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Nationalistic Craze and Cultural Associations: An interesting historical context is presented, suggesting that the orange-colored carrot was part of a fashionable, nationalistic craze in the 17th century. Tulips, lilies, carrots, and even oranges were cultivated to match the national color of the Netherlands, leading to the intertwining of the color, the House of Orange, and the citrus fruit.
In conclusion, the evolution of the color orange's association with carrots is a multifaceted story involving selective breeding, cultural trends, and linguistic nuances. The historical connections between the House of Orange, patriotic symbolism, and the cultivation of orange-colored crops have shaped the language we use today. The intertwining of color, language, and cultural practices is a fascinating journey through the annals of human history.
