What is country origin for the word marmalade?

Answer 1

This clear, fragrant jelly, made from the pulp and rinds of citrus fruit, is a 17th century innovation; the original marmalade was made from quince or apple, rather than citrus. There is a widespread myth that says the word marmalade came from the French "Marie malade" (illness of Marie), because it was one of the few things that Mary, Queen of Scots could eat when she was ill. But the idea that a French expression would be adopted by the Scots to describe their queen's preferred food seems a little far-fetched, doesn't it? Actually no it does NOT. Mary Queen of Scots was raised in France at the French court , and was briefly Queen before the death of her young husband and her return to Scotland. Her mother who was Regent of Scotland in her absence, for years, was also French. Mary was a much admired and famous figure from her youth and it would not be surprising if her name became associated with a particular food or other item that she favoured. The word's actual history traces back through French to the Portuguese marmelada (quince jam), from marmelo (quince). Marmelo came from the Latin melimelon (an apple grown from a tree that had been grafted onto quince roots), from meli- (honey) and -melon (apple). (So why is a melon not an apple in English? The English melon, the gourd-like fruit of a cucurbit vine, came from a contraction of the Latin melopepo, or apple-gourd.)

Answer 2

The Middle French word "marmalade" comes from the Portuguese word "marmelada" meaning "quince jelly." That word comes from the Classical Latin word "melimelum" meaning "sweet apple." That word comes from the Greek compound word "melimelon" meaning "honey apple."

In short: "melimelon" => "melimelum" =>"marmelada" => "marmelade"

Answer 3

Marmalade is a Middle English word. It comes from the Greek words for honey and apple, via Latin and Old French.

Answer 4

Marmalade, from the Portugese, marmelada, first meaning a quince jelly. Marmeleira is Portugese for quince orchard. (OED)

Answer 5

English Language