Origin of raisinOld French reisin ; from Vulgar Latin an unverified form racimus ; from Classical Latin racemus, cluster of grapes
- A sweet grape dried either in the sun or by artificial means.
- A deep brownish purple.
Origin of raisinMiddle English, from Old French, grape, from Vulgar Latin *racīmus, from Latin racēmus, bunch of grapes.
- A dried grape.
In the USA, raisin refers to any kind of dried grape. In the UK, Australia and New Zealand, raisin is reserved for the dried large dark grape, with sultana meaning the dried large white grape, and currant meaning the dried small Black Corinth grape.