Rachel Asked:
Is an orange called and orange because it’s orange, or is the color orange called orange because it’s the color of an orange?
Hey Rachel! My extreme apologies for the immense delay in this response. I have, as of late, had an amount of schoolwork that somewhat exceeds the norm, and as such, I did not have the time to devote adequate effort to your question. Have no fear, though, this answer, I’m sure, shall resolve all of the mystery surrounding the age-old question of the source of the term “orange.”
Your question assumes that either the fruit or the color is named after the other. In fact, this is quite off base. Neither was named after either! You see, the origin of this overtly-flexible term lies in the Movement for More Creative Nomenclature for Non-Primary Colors of the late 17th century. Up until this time, the color we now know as “orange” had been referred to as “dirty-yellow” or “that color that’s slightly darker than yellow and has sort of a reddish hue.”
The fruit known then as Citrus sinensis was used by the revolutionaries as propaganda for the movement’s flagship color: orange. Seeing fruits as much lesser entities than colors, the group named the fruit orange. Fortunately, the group was successful and fairly non-violent. (Only ten dictionary workers and a fruit company employee were injured in a violent stampede in Northern London.) Thus we get the naming of this most delightful color and savory fruit.
Happy 42nd Anniversary of the Launch of Apollo 13!
~XK
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Pastries and Other Great Vegetables 