Key lime

A small yellow (when ripe, usually sold green) lime, of hybrid Citrus × aurantiifolia, especially those from southern Florida.

Noun

  1. A small yellow (when ripe, usually sold green) lime, of hybrid Citrus × aurantiifolia, especially those from southern Florida.

    Synonyms: acid lime

Origin

From Keys (“the Florida Keys”), from key (“an island in a chain of islands”), variant of cay, from Spanish cayo.

Forms

Key limes key lime

Related

West Indian lime bartender’s lime Omani lime Mexican lime

Derived

Key lime pie