Apricot \A"pri*cot\, n. [OE. apricock, abricot, F. abricot, fr. Sp. albaricoque or Pg. albricoque, fr. Ar. albirq[=u]q, al-burq[=u]q. Though the E. and F. form abricot is derived from the Arabic through the Spanish, yet the Arabic word itself was formed from the Gr. praiko`kia, pl. (Diosc. c. 100) fr. L. praecoquus, praecox, early ripe. The older E. form apricock was prob. taken direct from Pg. See Precocious, Cook.]

(Bot.) A fruit allied to the plum, of an orange color, oval shape, and delicious taste; also, the tree (Prunus Armeniaca of Linn[ae]us) which bears this fruit. By cultivation it has been introduced throughout the temperate zone.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)