What does rind mean?
A rind is the outer covering of something, most commonly the peel of a fruit or vegetable. The word is especially useful when the outer layer is tough, thick, or distinct from the softer flesh inside, as in the rind of a melon, the rind of a lemon, or the rind of a hard cheese. It can also describe an animal's protective outer covering or, figuratively, a person's hardened or conventional exterior. Compared with the more general word 'skin,' 'rind' often suggests a firm, removable, or naturally protective layer. In literary contexts, calling someone a 'rind' implies that they have concealed a sensitive interior beneath a seemingly impassive exterior.
The outer skin or covering of a fruit, vegetable, plant, animal, or solid object; also, figuratively, a hard or insensitive exterior.
"The rind of the coconut was too tough to cut with a knife."
The figurative sense is usually negative and suggests emotional hardness or an exaggerated conventional exterior.
To remove the outer covering from, especially a fruit or vegetable.
"She rinded the potatoes before roasting them."
The verb is less common in everyday speech than 'peel' and is often used in contexts involving a thick outer covering.
The plural is used for separate outer coverings or layers, especially of fruits or vegetables.
"The discarded rinds filled the compost bin."
The word 'rind' originally described a tree's outer bark before it came to mean fruit peel and other outer coverings.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does rind come from?
The word comes from Old English rinde, meaning the outer bark of a tree or the skin of a fruit. It belongs to a Germanic word family and has close cognates in German Rinde and related Germanic forms. Over time, its meaning broadened from bark and plant coverings to fruit peel, animal coverings, and figurative outer surfaces.
Related word forms
How rind is actually used
In everyday use, 'rind' most often refers to fruit or vegetable peel. In figurative use, it can describe a person who appears emotionally hardened or who has adopted an outwardly rigid, conventional manner.