The English noun peach was introduced into the language around the fifteenth century, initially spelled as peche or peoche. The modern spelling became standardized in the 1600s, coinciding with the emergence of the adjective peachy meaning “excellent” from the 1900s onwards. The term originates from Old French pesche, borrowed from Medieval Latin pesca. In classical Latin, it was known as persica, which is still reflected in the scientific name of the fruit. This was derived from Latin malum Persicum, translating to “Persian apple,” a rendition of the Ancient Greek malon persikon. The root word malon also gives rise to terms like melon and marmalade, while persikon relates to the country of Persis. The etymology of Persis is debated, possibly stemming from the ancient warrior tribe Pars or the Sanskrit term parasu meaning “hatchet” or “axe.”
