Monday 6 November 2023

When you hear 'képi' are you hearing English or German (Swiss)?

'Képi' is a word borrowed from German (Swiss) 'Käppi'. The word entered the English language some time around 1861.


képi [noun] [1861]
A military cap with a round flat top usually sloping toward the front and a visor
See 'képi' on the Loan Words Map

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Etymology: French 'képi' from German dialect (Switzerland) 'käppi' cap
See more loan words from 1800s.


How the Hindi language influenced English with the word 'dum dum'

'Dum dum' is a word borrowed from Hindi 'Dam Dam'. The word entered the English language some time around 1889.


dum dum [noun] [circa 1889]
A bullet (as one with a hollow point) that expands more than usual upon hitting an object
See 'dum dum' on the Loan Words Map

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Etymology: arsenal near Calcutta, India
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Do you speak a little Hindi when you say 'Bangalore torpedo'?

'Bangalore torpedo' is a word borrowed from Hindi 'Bangalore'. The word entered the English language some time around 1913.


Bangalore torpedo [noun] [1913]
A metal tube that contains explosives and a firing mechanism and is used to cut barbed wire and detonate buried mines
See 'Bangalore torpedo' on the Loan Words Map

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Etymology: India
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Is 'bossa nova' English, or is it actually Portuguese?

'Bossa nova' is a word borrowed from Portuguese 'bossa nova'. The word entered the English language some time around 1962.


bossa nova [noun] [1962]
  • popular music of Brazilian origin that is rhythmically related to the samba but with complex harmonies and improvised j...
  • a dance performed to bossa nova music
See 'bossa nova' on the Loan Words Map

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Etymology: Portuguese, literally, new trend
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Do you speak a little Chinese when you say 'kung fu'?

'Kung fu' is a word borrowed from Chinese 'gōngfu'. The word entered the English language some time around 1966.


kung fu [noun] [1966]
Any of various Chinese martial arts and related disciplines that are practiced especially for self-defense, exercise, a...
See 'kung fu' on the Loan Words Map

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Etymology: Chinese (Beijing) 'gōngfu' skill, art
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The Latin origins of the word 'tandem'

'Tandem' is a word borrowed from Latin 'tandem'. The word entered the English language some time around 1785.


tandem [noun] [circa 1785]
  • a 2-seated carriage drawn by horses harnessed one before the other
  • a team so harnessed
  • tandem bicycle
  • a vehicle (as a motortruck) having close-coupled pairs of axles
See 'tandem' on the Loan Words Map

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Etymology: Latin, at last, at length (taken to mean “lengthwise”), from 'tam' so; akin to Old English 'thæt' that
See more loan words from 1700s.


The word 'hoosegow' originally came from Spanish as 'juzgado'

'Hoosegow' is a word borrowed from Spanish 'juzgado'. The word entered the English language some time around 1909.


hoosegow [noun] [1909]
Jail
See 'hoosegow' on the Loan Words Map

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Etymology: Spanish 'juzgado' panel of judges, courtroom, from past participle of 'juzgar' to judge, from Latin 'judicare'
See more loan words from 1900s.


When you say 'bassoon' are you speaking French?

'Bassoon' is a word borrowed from French 'basson'. The word entered the English language some time around 1724.


bassoon [noun] [1724]
A double-reed woodwind instrument having a long U-shaped conical tube connected to the mouthpiece by a thin metal tube ...
See 'bassoon' on the Loan Words Map

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Etymology: French 'basson' from Italian 'bassone' from 'basso'
See more loan words from 1700s.


Did you know that 'aioli' is actually French?

'Aioli' is a word borrowed from French 'aioli'. The word entered the English language some time around 1900.


aioli [noun] [circa 1900]
A mayonnaise flavored with garlic and sometimes other ingredients (as red pepper)
See 'aioli' on the Loan Words Map

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Etymology: Occitan, from 'ai' garlic + 'oli' oil
See more loan words from 1900s.


Is 'cant' English, or is it actually Gaelic?

'Cant' is a word borrowed from Gaelic 'caint'. The word entered the English language some time around the 14th century.


cant [adjective] [14th century]
  • lively
See 'cant' on the Loan Words Map

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note: From the Irish word caint (older spelling cainnt) speech; talk or Scottish Gaelic cainnt. It is seen to have derived amongst the itinerant groups of people in Ireland and Scotland who hailed from both Irish/Scottish Gaelic and English-speaking backgrounds ultimately developing as various creole languages.
Etymology: Middle English, probably from Middle Low German '*kant'
See more loan words from 1300s.


Do you speak a little Italian when you say 'consigliere'?

'Consigliere' is a word borrowed from Italian 'consigliere'. The word entered the English language some time around 1615.


consigliere [noun] [1615]
  • counselor
See 'consigliere' on the Loan Words Map

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Etymology: Italian, from 'consiglio' advice, counsel, from Latin 'consilium'
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Do you speak a little Filipino when you say 'albulario'?

'Albulario' is a word borrowed from Filipino 'albulario'.


albulario
(details not available)
See 'albulario' on the Loan Words Map

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note: A witch doctor or folk healer or medicine man - derived from Spanish herbolario (herbalist). They practice folk medicine and use medicinal plants in their trade.
Etymology: -
See more loan words from (unknown date).

The word 'kasern' is originally from French 'caserne'

'Kasern' is a word borrowed from French 'caserne'.


kasern
(details not available)
See 'kasern' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from French.

note: A military barracks especially of the US military in Germany. German Kaserne or alteration of casern - ultimately from French caserne.
Etymology: -
See more loan words from (unknown date).