currant
スグリ
解説 Definition
currant は、スグリ、または小粒の干しブドウを指す名詞です。日本語の「カラント」は菓子材料としての干しブドウを指すことが多いですが、英語では植物のスグリにも使われます。
A currant is either a small berry produced by certain shrubs, especially red, black, or white currants, or a small dried seedless grape traditionally associated with the Corinth variety. Currants are commonly used in preserves, baking, and other foods.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
currant は「コリント産の干しブドウ」を表す表現から生まれた語で、都市名 Corinth と結び付けると綴りを覚えやすくなります。英語では dried currant「小粒の干しブドウ」だけでなく、red currant や currant bush のようにスグリの実・低木にも使います。current「現在の」とは綴りも意味も別です。
Connect currant with Corinth: the dried fruit was historically known as a grape or raisin of Corinth, and the place name gradually changed into the modern spelling. Then remember the second meaning through appearance—small berries such as red and black currants resemble the little dried fruit. Typical combinations are red currant, black currant, currant bush, and dried currants. Do not confuse currant with current: current has an e and refers to the present time or a flow.
例文
The red currant grows well in cool weather.
赤スグリは涼しい気候でよく育ちます。
She added dried currant to the bread dough.
彼女はパン生地に干しカラントを加えました。
A currant bush stood beside the garden path.
庭の小道のそばにスグリの低木がありました。
currant の類義語・関連語
派生語
紛らわしい語
currant の語源・成り立ち Etymology
currant はもともと「コリント産の干しぶどう」を縮めた語で、ギリシャの都市 Corinth の名が訛って生まれました。のちに見た目の似たスグリにも使われるようになり、Corinth や Corinthian を知ると語形の不思議が解けます。
Currant developed from expressions meaning “raisin of Corinth,” referring to small dried grapes associated with the Greek city of Corinth. Through French and Middle English forms of the place name, Corinth was reduced and reshaped into currant. The word was later applied to berries of shrubs in the genus Ribes because they resembled the small dried grapes. The fruit sense therefore includes two botanically different foods.
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