currant

[ kur-uhnt, kuhr- ]

noun

1. a small seedless raisin, of the cultivar Black Corinth, produced chiefly in Greece, and used in cooking and confectionery.
2. the small, edible, acidic, round fruit of certain wild or cultivated shrubs of the genus Ribes.
3. any of various fruit-bearing shrubs of the genus Ribes, including black currant and gooseberry.
4. any of various fruits or shrubs resembling those of the genus Ribes.

currant

/ ˈkʌrənt /

noun

1. a small dried seedless grape of the Mediterranean region, used in cooking
2. any of several mainly N temperate shrubs of the genus Ribes, esp R. rubrum (redcurrant) and R. nigrum (blackcurrant): family Grossulariaceae See also gooseberry
3. the small acid fruit of any of these plants

Word History and Origins

Origin of currant¹

First recorded in 1300–50; shortened from Middle English raysons of Coraunte “raisins of Corinth, ” the port in Greece from which they originally came

Word History and Origins

Origin of currant¹

C16: shortened from rayson of Corannte raisin of Corinth

Example Sentences

Barkeley came up with the idea for The Daily Currant after a few other career tracks failed to pan out.

From The Daily Beast

Pour the currant sauce over the dish, garnish with the fresh oregano or parsley, and serve.

From The Daily Beast

She's going to have her currant jell' made right away, even whilst the currants are half green.

From Project Gutenberg

Almost any other kind of shrub'd have died long ago, neglected as things have been, but you can't kill a currant bush.

From Project Gutenberg

I wanted you to make calls with me and to help me with the currant jelly and to put those button-holes into my linen wrapper.

From Project Gutenberg

Pound it in a mortar with some red currant jelly and make up into small cakes with raw eggs.

From Project Gutenberg

A wineglassful of port should be added, and a good spoonful of red currant jelly should be dissolved in it.

From Project Gutenberg