citron (sitron)

[Early mod. E. also cidron; κίτριον, 1, > κίτριον, also κιτρία, κιτρέα, κιτρέα, the citron tree; said to be of Ar. origin. Cf. citrus, citer tree.] 1. The fruit of the citron-tree, a variety of Citrus medic a, distinguished from the lemon by the absence of an umbo at the summit and by its very thick rind. The rind is candied and used in confections and pastries. The fingered citron is a variety in which the fruit is curiously divided into large fingerlike lobes. 2. The citron-tree, Citrus medic a.-3. A round and nearly solid variety of the watermelon, Ci trull us vulgar is, with white and almost flavorle flesh, sometimes used as a preserve.-4. Same as citron -water. Drinking citron with his Grace. Swift , Pope , and Arbuthnot , Misc., IV. 222. citron at i on (sit-ro-na's hon), n. [ ( ize ) + -ation.] Same as citrin at i on . citronella (sit-rō-nel'ä), n. [NL., tro (n-), citron, + dim. -ell a .] A fragrant gra , Andropogon Nardus, extensively cultivated in Ceylon and Singapore for an oil (citronella-oil) is obtained from it. The oil is esteemed in India as a remedy for rheumatism, and is used in Europe and America by soap-makers and perfumers. are white and fragrant, with numerous stamens united by their filaments into several irregular bundles. The fruit is pulpy, with a spongy rind. To this genus belong the orange, C. Aurantium, of which the kumquat is a variety; the shaddock and pumelo, C. decuman a; the lemon and citron, C. medic a; and the lime, which probably originated from C. Hystrix.