orenge

Orenge is a historic or obsolete spelling of the English word orange, most often encountered in older texts. In modern English, orenge is rarely used, with orange serving as the standard term for both the fruit and the color.

The word orange refers to the citrus fruit of Citrus species, most commonly Citrus sinensis. Oranges are grown in subtropical regions around the world and come in many cultivars, including Valencia, navel, and blood orange. The fruit is valued for its sweet-tort flavor and its juice, rind, and zest, which are used in foods, beverages, and perfumery.

The color orange denotes a hue between red and yellow. The color term is named after the fruit, and its entry into English followed the adoption of the fruit’s name. The word orange entered English via Old French orenge, which itself traces to earlier forms in Arabic and Persian through Mediterranean linguistic contacts.

In contemporary usage, orenge is not standard spelling. It may appear in historical documents, dialectal writings, or as a typographical variant. For general purposes, orenge is regarded as an archaic form, while orange is used for both the fruit and the color.