lemon

Etymology

From Middle English lymon, from Old French lymon (“citrus”), from Arabic لَيْمُون (laymūn) or Persian لیمون (limon), ultimately from Persian لیمو (limu). Cognate with Sanskrit निम्बू (nimbū, “lime”). Doublet of lime. The fandom sense is named after the erotic anime series Cream Lemon.

noun

1. A yellowish citrus fruit.
2. A semitropical evergreen tree, Citrus limon, that bears such fruits.
3. A more or less bright shade of yellow associated with lemon fruits.
   lemon flesh:
   lemon rind:
4. A lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris).
5. (slang) A defective or inadequate item or individual.
   He didn’t realise until he’d paid for it that the car was a lemon.
   “[…]the Navy's supposed to give me a ship that goes, and a captain that fights—— That's what all this muck is for, isn't it?” “Look, it's an old story by now. We're stuck with a lemon. Misfortune of war.[…]” 1951, Herman Wouk, chapter 20, in The Caine Mutiny, page 243
6. (Cockney rhyming slang, shortened from “lemon flavour”) Favor.
   A thousand quid for that motor? Do me a lemon! I could get it for half that.
7. (fandom slang) A piece of fanfiction involving explicit sex.
   I'd really like to know what people think of this and whether I should carry on writing lemons or go and hide under a rock somewhere. 18 April 1997, Neko, “[Dominion][FanFic][Lemon] A Typical Night at the Station”, in rec.arts.anime.creative (Usenet)
   WARNING: This story is a lemon and must be viewed with great care. If you are either under the age of 18, think graphic sex is discussing or you know what my writing is like you should turn away now. 30 May 2000, Ian Blakeman, “[Eva][FanFic][Lemon] A day at Misatos appartment”, in rec.arts.anime.creative (Usenet)
   This won't be a lemon simply because I can't see myself writing anything like that. 10 November 2002, Goku Girl, “[DBZ][FanFic][Yaoi] Saiya-jin no Suto-ri Ichi (part one)”, in rec.arts.anime.creative (Usenet)

adj

1. Containing or having the flavour/flavor and/or scent of lemons.
2. Of the pale yellow colour/color of lemons.
3. (Cockney rhyming slang, from "lemon tart") Smart; cheeky, vocal.
   Obviously Emin is not the first public figure to get lemon over tax increases. 12 Oct 2009, Caitlin Moran, “Why I love paying tax”, in The Times

verb

1. (transitive) To flavour with lemon.
   You can start the vegetables cooking while you are lemoning the fish.