durian 的詞源

榴蓮，印度尼西亞一種樹的球形水果，起源於馬來語（南島語系）durian，源自 duri “刺，荊棘”。因其外皮而得名。

The durian is deemed by the Siamese the king of fruits. Its smell is offensive to European sense, and I have heard it compared to the stink of carrion and onions mingled. But the exquisite flavour of the fruit renders even its fragrance attractive to its habitués, and it is the only fruit which has ever a considerable money-value in the Siamese market. [Sir John Bowring, "The Kingdom and People of Siam," London, 1857]

榴蓮被泰國人視爲水果之王。它的氣味對歐洲人來說很難聞，我聽說過它被比作腐肉和洋蔥混合的臭味。但是，這種水果的美妙口感使得它的氣味對於它的 habitués 來說仍然很有吸引力，而且它是唯一在泰國市場上有相當價值的水果。[約翰·鮑林爵士，《暹羅王國和人民》，倫敦，1857年]