kumquat

noun

kum·​quat ˈkəm-ˌkwät 

: any of several small yellow to orange citrus fruits with sweet spongy rind and somewhat acid pulp that are used chiefly for preserves

also : a tree or shrub (genus Citrus) of the rue family that bears kumquats

Examples of kumquat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The cocktail comes with your spirit of choice, kumquat, citrus, rosewater and a rosemary vermouth. —Nadia Lopez, Axios, 17 Jan. 2025

They will be buried together in their garden at home, among the kumquat tree and blueberry bushes, the white azaleas and roses, and the pollinator plants. —Emily Cochrane, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025

The lack of rain also made kumquat trees weaker and their fruit less attractive, farmers say. —Mike Ives, New York Times, 29 Jan. 2025

Some of the best pint-sized citrus plants for indoor growing include dwarf kumquats and Meyer lemons. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Chinese (Guangdong) gām-gwāt, from gām gold + gwāt citrus fruit

First Known Use

1699, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

kumquat

noun

kum·​quat ˈkəm-ˌkwät 

1

: a small yellowish orange fruit related to the citruses with sweet spongy skin and somewhat tart pulp used especially for preserves

2

: a tree or shrub that bears kumquats