# Curran

/ˈkɝən/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/curran
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

an old word for a small, dried grape used in baking. Today, we usually spell this word 'currant'.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "a red curran" but "a red currant" — The spelling 'curran' is obsolete; modern English requires 'currant' for both the dried grape and the fresh berry.

## Usage notes

- Archaic spelling; in modern English, use 'currant'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.