Sorrel

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: sor=rel

CIDE DICTIONARY

Sorrel, a. [F. saur, saure, OF. sor, sore, probably of Teutonic origin; cf. D. zoor dry, LG. soor; the meaning probably coming from the color of dry leaves. See Sear, a., and cf. Sorel.].

 Of a yellowish or redish brown color; as, a sorrel horse.  [1913 Webster]

Sorrel, n. 

 A yellowish or redish brown color.  [1913 Webster]

Sorrel, n. [F. surelle, fr. sur sour, fr. OHG. sr sour. See Sour.].

 One of various plants having a sour juice; especially, a plant of the genus Rumex, as Rumex Acetosa, Rumex Acetosella, etc.  [1913 Webster]

Mountain sorrel. (Bot.) See under Mountain. -- Red sorrel. (Bot.) (a) A malvaceous plant (Hibiscus Sabdariffa) whose acid calyxes and capsules are used in the West Indies for making tarts and acid drinks. (b) A troublesome weed (Rumex Acetosella), also called sheep sorrel. -- Salt of sorrel (Chem.), binoxalate of potassa; -- so called because obtained from the juice of Rumex Acetosella, or Rumex Axetosa. -- Sorrel tree (Bot.), a small ericaceous tree (Oxydendrum arboreum) whose leaves resemble those of the peach and have a sour taste. It is common along the Alleghanies. Called also sourwood. -- Wood sorrel (Bot.), any plant of the genus Oxalis.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Sorrel, n. any acid-leaved herb of the genus Rumex, used in salads and for flavouring.

Sorrel, adj. & n.
--adj. of a light reddish-brown colour.
--n.
1 this colour.
2 a sorrel animal, esp. a horse.
3 Brit. a sorel.

Etymology

ME f. OF sorel f. sor yellowish f. Frank.

THESAURUS

Sorrel

bay, bayard, beige, brown, brownish, brownish-yellow, brunet, buckskin, calico pony, chestnut, chocolate, cinnamon, cocoa, cocoa-brown, coffee, coffee-brown, dapple-gray, drab, dun, dun-brown, dun-drab, ecru, fawn, fawn-colored, fuscous, gray, grege, grizzle, hazel, khaki, lurid, nut-brown, olive-brown, olive-drab, paint, painted pony, piebald, pinto, roan, seal, seal-brown, sepia, skewbald, snuff-colored, tan, taupe, tawny, toast, toast-brown, umber, umber-colored, walnut, walnut-brown, yellowish-brown

ROGET THESAURUS

Sorrel

Redness

N redness, red, scarlet, vermilion, carmine, crimson, pink, lake, maroon, carnation, couleur de rose, rose du Barry, magenta, damask, purple, flesh color, flesh tint, color, fresh color, high color, warmth, gules, ruby, carbuncle, rose, rust, iron mold, cinnabar, cochineal, fuchsine, ruddle, madder, Indian red, light red, Venetian red, red ink, annotto, annatto, realgar, minium, red lead, redness, rubescence, rubicundity, rubification, erubescence, blush, red, reddish, rufous, ruddy, florid, incarnadine, sanguine, rosy, roseate, blowzy, blowed, burnt, rubicund, rubiform, lurid, stammell blood red, russet buff, murrey, carroty, sorrel, lateritious, rubineous, rubricate, rubricose, rufulous, rose-colored, ruby-colored, cherry-colored, claret-colored, flame- colored, flesh-colored, peach-colored, salmon-colored, brick-colored, brick-colored, dust-colored, blushing, erubescent, reddened, red as fire, red as blood, red as scarlet, red as a turkey cock, red as a lobster, warm, hot, foxy.