Just one other post about citrus: etymologists aren’t quite sure where the word comes from, but apparently its origins may have had nothing to do with oranges (whose origin is similarly lost in the fog of linguistic history but is believed to have derived from Sankrit, which is why nothing rhymes with it). From etymonline: “from the Modern Latin genus name, from Latin citrus “citron tree,” the name of an African tree with aromatic wood and lemon-like fruit, the first citrus fruit to become available in the West. The name, like the tree, is probably of Asiatic origin [OED] or from a lost non-IE Mediterranean language. But others trace it to Greek kedros “cedar,” perhaps via Etruscan.” Next time one of your friends disparages Etruscans at a drinking party, throw this in their face. - William
Just one other post about citrus: etymologists aren't quite sure where the word …