What does sorrel mean?
Sorrel is the common name of several edible plants in the dock family, particularly common sorrel, whose leaves have a distinctive tart, lemony taste. Gardeners use sorrel in salads, soups, sauces, and herb mixtures, while sheep sorrel is a related, smaller species often found in meadows and lawns. Sorrel also has a completely separate equine sense: it can denote a reddish-brown coat color or a horse with that coloring. This second meaning is particularly common in American ranching and horse-breeding terminology. Although the plant and horse senses seem unrelated at first, the word is especially memorable because it joins a familiar culinary herb with a familiar description of a horse's appearance.
A common perennial herb of the genus Rumex, especially Rumex acetosa, with green leaves that have a tart, lemony flavor.
"The cook folded fresh sorrel into the cream sauce."
Usually refers to common sorrel or a closely related garden herb; sheep sorrel is a distinct smaller species.
A reddish-brown horse, or the reddish-brown color associated with such a horse.
"A bright sorrel stood at the edge of the paddock."
This sense is especially common in North American English and in horse-related contexts.
The plural is sorrels, used for multiple individual plants or horses; the name of the herb as an ingredient is normally used in the singular or uncountably.
"The field was dotted with wild sorrels."
One word can name a lemony garden herb and a reddish-brown horse: sorrel brings tartness to the table and color to the stable.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sorrel come from?
The word entered English from Old French sorrel, referring to the plant, and ultimately derives from a Germanic root associated with sourness, also reflected in English sour. The culinary name reflects the plant's acidic taste. The separate sense for a reddish-brown horse or coat color developed later in English and is now especially familiar in North American horse terminology.
How sorrel is actually used
The plant sense is common in British and American English. The horse and coat-color senses are especially associated with North American English, although they are also understood elsewhere.
Easily confused with sorrel
Sorrel is a specific tart-leaved herb, while sour is an adjective describing an acidic taste or a general quality of bitterness.
In horse terminology, a sorrel is a reddish-brown horse; the same word can also name the herb Rumex acetosa, so the intended sense depends on context.