Final answer:
The term "tangerine" originated from Tangier in Morocco and describes a variety of orange from this region in North Africa.
Step-by-step explanation:
The word "tangerine" was originally used to describe a variety of orange that came from Tangier, a city in the North African country of Morocco. These oranges were then brought across the desert from tropical West Africa to the far reaches of the North African coast, where cities like Tangier became points of trade and cultural exchange. The term tangerine thus reflects the geographic origins of this particular fruit variety and its journey from West Africa to the northern shores of the continent. The specific African country associated with the original tangerine is not mentioned in the provided information.