mikan
mikan Lexical Profile
• noun
A seedless and easy-peeling citrus fruit of the satsuma mandarin variety (Citrus unshiu), widely cultivated and deeply associated with winter customs in Japan.
"During the cold winter months, it is customary in Japan to eat mikan while sitting under a heated kotatsu table."
The small evergreen citrus tree that produces the mikan fruit, characterized by its dark green leaves and relatively high cold tolerance compared to other citrus species.
"The farmer carefully pruned the mikan trees in his hillside orchard to ensure a plentiful harvest the following year."
Word Nuance & Usage
In English, 'mikan' is primarily used in contexts relating to Japanese culture and agriculture, whereas the same fruit is commonly referred to as a 'satsuma' in general Western markets.
• Rhymes for mikan
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Japanese 'mikan' (蜜柑), which derives from Middle Chinese terms meaning 'honey' (mjit) and 'mandarin orange' (kam).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.