The word orange entered Middle English from Old French and Anglo-Norman orenge.[2] The earliest recorded use of the word in English is from the 13th century and referred to the fruit. The earliest attested use of the word in reference to the colour is from the 16th century.[2] It is generally thought that Old French borrowed the Italian melarancio ("fruit of the orange tree", with mela "fruit") as pume orenge (with pume "fruit").[3][4] Although pume orenge is attested earlier than melarancio in available written sources, lexicographers believe that the Italian word is actually older.[2]