Raisin

A raisin is a dried grape. Raisins are produced in many regions of the world and may be eaten raw or used in cooking, baking, and brewing. In the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa,^[1] the word raisin is reserved for the dark-colored dried large grape,^[2] with sultana being a golden-colored dried grape, and currant being a dried small Black Corinth seedless grape.^[3]

Etymology

The word "raisin" dates back to Middle English and is a loanword from Old French; in modern French, raisin means "grape", while a dried grape is a raisin sec, or "dry grape".

The Old French word, in turn, developed from the Latin word racemus, "a bunch of grapes".^[3]