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(kʉr′ənt)

noun

the raisin of a small, seedless grape (a cultivar of Vitis vinifera) grown in the Mediterranean region, used in cooking
1. the small, sour, red, white, or black berry of several species of hardy shrubs (genus Ribes) of the saxifrage family, used for jellies and jams
2. a shrub bearing this fruit

Origin: ME corauns < (reisins of) Coraunce < Anglo-Fr (raisins de) Corauntz, (raisins of) Corinth: orig. imported from Corinth

See currant in American Heritage Dictionary 4

cur·rant

noun

Any of various deciduous, spineless shrubs of the genus Ribes, native chiefly to the Northern Hemisphere and having flowers in racemes and edible, variously colored berries.
The fruits of any of these plants, used for jams, jellies, desserts, or beverages.
A small seedless raisin of the Mediterranean region, used chiefly in baking.
Any of several other plants or their fruit.

Origin: From Middle English (raysons of) coraunte, (raisins of) Corinth, currants, from Anglo-Norman (raisins de) Corauntz, from Latin Corinthus, Corinth, from Greek Korinthos.

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