Word
curran
Phoneticscur·ran
/ˈkɝən/
Definition
n. an old word for a small, dried grape used in baking. Today, we usually spell this word 'currant'.
n. an archaic spelling of 'currant', referring to a small, seedless dried grape of the Levant. Primarily found in historical texts or early modern English culinary records.
Examples
“The old recipe calls for a handful of dried curran.”
“In the 17th-century ledger, the merchant recorded the import of several barrels of curran from the Mediterranean.”
“While modern orthography has settled on the double-t suffix, historical manuscripts frequently omit the final consonant when referring to the curran as a staple of the spice trade.”
Examples
simple
“The old recipe calls for a handful of dried curran.”
contextual
“In the 17th-century ledger, the merchant recorded the import of several barrels of curran from the Mediterranean.”
complex
“While modern orthography has settled on the double-t suffix, historical manuscripts frequently omit the final consonant when referring to the curran as a staple of the spice trade.”
Usage
Archaic spelling; in modern English, use 'currant'.
Pitfall
a red curran
a red currant
The spelling 'curran' is obsolete; modern English requires 'currant' for both the dried grape and the fresh berry.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/curran