calamondin

noun

cal·​a·​mon·​din ˌka-lə-ˈmän-dən 

: a small hybrid citrus tree (Citrus microcarpa synonym C. mitis) of warm regions cultivated chiefly as an ornamental

also : its small, tart, orange fruit resembling a mandarin or kumquat and yielding an acidic juice used especially as a flavoring agent or in beverages and marmalades

Note: While the calamondin has been widely grown in the Philippines and Indonesia, it is thought to be native to China.

Examples of calamondin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The three-foot-tall semi-dwarf calamondin — a plant native to the Philippines that produces sour, compact orange fruit thought to be a hybrid of a kumquat and a mandarin — has always thrived despite, rather than because of, my attempts at care. —New York Times, 16 Apr. 2020

At the other end of the spectrum, kumquats and calamondin are most tolerant of the cold and rarely need to be covered. —Calvin Finch, ExpressNews.com, 9 Jan. 2020

Calamansi (calamondin) is a type of tart orange, and its juice or extract is typically available in bottled and frozen form at Filipino markets. —Bonnie S. Benwick, sacbee, 29 Aug. 2017

Calamansi (calamondin) is a type of tart orange, and its juice or extract is typically available in bottled and frozen form at Asian markets (like those on Washington Avenue). —Philly.com, 24 Aug. 2017

Calamansi (calamondin) is a type of tart orange, and its juice or extract is typically available in bottled and frozen form at Filipino markets such as Filipino Global Supermarket in Falls Church. —The Washington Post, NOLA.com, 18 Aug. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Tagalog kalamundíng

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above