かぼす

か

ぼ

す

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

kabosu (type of citrus fruit)

usually written using kana alone

A small green citrus fruit native to Japan, often used as a condiment or in ponzu. The scientific name is Citrus sphaerocarpa.

すだち
Sudachi is another small Japanese citrus, similar in use but slightly different in flavor and region; sudachi is more associated with Tokushima Prefecture.
ゆず
Yuzu is a larger, more aromatic citrus used in a wider range of dishes and products; kabosu is milder and often used fresh.

かぼすUsage44%
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms 香母酢 and 臭橙 are rare.
カボスUsage56%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is also common, especially in menus or product names.
香か母ぼ酢す
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; it is rarely used.
臭橙かぼす
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; it is rarely used.

The origin of the word かぼす is uncertain. It may be derived from an old regional name or a contraction, but there is no widely accepted etymology.