Meyer lemon

noun

Mey·​er lemon ˈmīr- 

ˈmī-ər-

: a citrus fruit that resembles a lemon but is less acidic with orange yellow skin and pulp

Meyer lemons are so special—more naturally sweet and floral than regular lemons—and we think using them in a soufflé is a nice way to highlight their uniqueness.

—Jane Daniels Lear, Gourmet, February 2007

also : a tree (Citrus × meyeri) bearing Meyer lemons that is thought to be a hybrid between a lemon and a sweet or mandarin orange and was first introduced into the U.S. from China in the early 1900s

My kumquat is about to bear its first little fruit, and the Meyer lemon is covered in richly scented blossoms.

—Michael Pollan, New York Times Magazine, 16 May 2004

Word History

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

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