As is well known, the word "orange" appears in European languages in at least three closely related forms: orange, naranja, and laranja—found in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, respectively. It is clear that they share a common root: "ranj". Likewise, all three prefixes—o-, na-, and la-—are Kartvelian in origin.
"O-" is the well-known Mingrelian prefix used for abstract nouns, analogous to the Georgian "sa-", meaning "the place where...".
"Na-" is a Georgian prefix of passive participles.
"La-" is a Svan prefix of place, functioning in the same way as "o-".
Thus, the root of these words is "ranj". Consulting Otari Kajaia’s dictionary, we find the word "ranjua" (რანჯუა), which means "drinking in one gulp".
So, "orange" essentially means "something consumed in one gulp." And what is typically consumed this way? Strong alcoholic beverages. The history of orange-based liquors has likely been lost over time, though Cointreau—only 160 years old—remains a well-known example. However, it is reasonable to assume that similar beverages existed in ancient times.
Furthermore, as noted in Wikipedia’s article on oranges, early cultivation in Italy focused exclusively on bitter oranges—primarily for medicinal purposes. In other words, for tinctures meant to be consumed in a single gulp.
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