When you say 'baboon' are you speaking French?

'Baboon' is a word borrowed from French 'babuin'. The word entered the English language some time around the 15th century.

baboon [noun] [15th century]

• any of a genus (Papio) of large gregarious primates of Africa and southwestern Asia having a long square naked muzzle
• any of several closely related primates

Meaning: any of a genus ( Papio ) of large gregarious primates of Africa and southwestern Asia having a long square naked muzzle; any of several closely related primates.

Etymology: Middle English babewin; from Middle French babouin; from baboue grimace.

Topics: Animals:Mammals.

Origin: From French to English.

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The word 'quinine' originally came from Quechua (Inca) as 'kina-kina'

'Quinine' is a word borrowed from Quechua (Inca) 'kina-kina'. The word entered the English language some time around 1825.

quinine [noun] [1825]

• a bitter crystalline alkaloid CHNO from cinchona bark used in medicine
• a salt of quinine used especially as an antipyretic, antimalarial, and bitter tonic

Meaning: a bitter crystalline alkaloid C 20 H 24 N 2 O 2 from cinchona bark used in medicine; a salt of quinine used especially as an antipyretic; antimalarial; and bitter tonic.

Etymology: Spanish quina cinchona; from Quechua kina bark.

Topics: Medicine:Remedies.

Origin: From French to Spanish to English.

note: Derived from French which took it from the Spanish quina or quinina based on the Quechua (Inca language) word kina-kina used to describe the bark of the Cinchona tree which is a source of the antimalarial drug.

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When you hear 'ramen' are you hearing English or Japanese?

'Ramen' is a word borrowed from Japanese 'ramen'. The word entered the English language some time around 1972.

ramen [noun] [1972]

Quick-cooking egg noodles usually served in a broth with bits of meat and vegetables
Meaning: quick-cooking egg noodles usually served in a broth with bits of meat and vegetables.

Etymology: Japanese ramen.

Topics: Food:Dishes, Food:Staples.

Origin: From Japanese to English.

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When you say 'leitmotif' are you speaking German?

'Leitmotif' is a word borrowed from German 'leitmotiv'. The word entered the English language some time around 1876.

leitmotif [noun] [circa 1876]

• an associated melodic phrase or figure that accompanies the reappearance of an idea, person, or situation especially in...
• a dominant recurring theme

Meaning: an associated melodic phrase or figure that accompanies the reappearance of an idea; person; or situation especially in a Wagnerian music drama; a dominant recurring theme.

Etymology: German Leitmotiv; from leiten to lead + Motiv motive.

Topics: Arts:Music.

Origin: From German to English.

note: Etymology: Borrowed from German Leitmotiv coined in the 19th century. It is a compound of leiten (to lead) and Motiv (motive). Definition: A recurring musical theme or phrase associated with a particular character/idea/mood/location often used in operas (especially Richard Wagner's) and film scores to provide structure and thematic storytelling.

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When you hear 'odalisque' are you hearing English or Turkish?

'Odalisque' is a word borrowed from Turkish 'oda-lisk'. The word entered the English language some time around 1681.

odalisque [noun] [circa 1681]

• a female slave
• a concubine in a harem

Meaning: a female slave; a concubine in a harem.

Etymology: French; from Turkish odalk; from oda room.

Topics: Society:Culture.

Origin: From French to Turkish to English.

note: Late 17th century: from French from Turkish odalik from oda chamber + lik function.

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The word 'peruke' originally came from French as 'perruque'

'Peruke' is a word borrowed from French 'perruque'. The word entered the English language some time around 1573.

peruke [noun] [circa 1573]

• wig
• one of a type popular from the 17th to the early 19th century

Meaning: wig; one of a type popular from the 17th to the early 19th century.

Etymology: Middle French perruque; from Old Italian parrucca; perrucca hair; wig.

Topics: Clothing:Accessories.

Origin: From French to English.

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When you say 'credenza' are you speaking Italian?

'Credenza' is a word borrowed from Italian 'credenza'. The word entered the English language some time around 1880.

credenza [noun] [1880]

• credence
• a sideboard, buffet, or bookcase patterned after a Renaissance
• one without legs

Meaning: credence 3; a sideboard; buffet; or bookcase patterned after a Renaissance credence; one without legs.

Etymology: Italian; literally; belief; confidence; from Medieval Latin credentia.

Topics: Household:Furniture.

Origin: From Italian to Latin to English.

note: From the Italian credenza meaning belief trust or confidence which derives from the Medieval Latin credentia and Latin credere (to believe). It refers to the 16th-century Italian practice of placing food on a sideboard to be tasted by servants for poison before serving it to nobles symbolizing trust in the food's safety.

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When you hear 'katana' are you hearing English or Japanese?

'Katana' is a word borrowed from Japanese 'katana'.

katana

(details not available)
Meaning: Traditionally single-edged Japanese sword.

Etymology: From Japanese katana sword; deeper word history is uncertain.

Topics: Military:Weapons.

Origin: From Japanese to English.

note: A slightly curved single-edged sword historically worn by the Japanese samurai.

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How the Japanese language influenced English with the word 'kimono'

'Kimono' is a word borrowed from Japanese 'kimono'. The word entered the English language some time around 1886.

kimono [noun] [1886]

• a long robe with wide sleeves traditionally worn with a broad sash as an outer garment by the Japanese
• a loose dressing gown or jacket

Meaning: Japanese robe with wide sleeves.

Etymology: Borrowed from Japanese kimono.

Topics: Clothing:Garments.

Origin: From Japanese to English.

note: Meaning: Japanese robe with wide sleeves. Etymology: Borrowed from Japanese kimono.

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The Latin roots of the word 'liminal'

'Liminal' is a word borrowed from Latin 'limen'. The word entered the English language some time around 1884.

liminal [adjective] [1884]

• of or relating to a sensory threshold
• barely perceptible
• of, relating to, or being an intermediate state, phase, or condition
• in-between

Meaning: of or relating to a sensory threshold; barely perceptible; of; relating to; or being an intermediate state; phase; or condition : in-between transitional in the liminal state between life and death Deborah Jowitt.

Etymology: Latin limin-; limen threshold.

Topics: Society:Culture.

Origin: From Latin to English.

note: Derived from the Latin limen meaning threshold. Liminal entered English in the late 19th century through psychological contexts - referring to a threshold of perception.

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The word 'hinterland' is a loan word from German 'Hinterland'

'Hinterland' is a word borrowed from German 'Hinterland'. The word entered the English language some time around 1890.

hinterland [noun] [1890]

• a region lying inland from a coast
• a region remote from urban areas
• a region lying beyond major metropolitan or cultural centers

Meaning: inland region beyond coast.

Etymology: Borrowed from German Hinterland.

Topics: Geography:Regions.

Origin: From German to English.

note: Meaning: inland region beyond coast. Etymology: Borrowed from German Hinterland.

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When you hear 'lantern' are you hearing English or Latin?

'Lantern' is a word borrowed from Latin 'lanterna'. The word entered the English language some time around the 13th century.

lantern [noun] [13th century]

• a usually portable protective case for a light with transparent openings
• lighthouse
• the chamber in a lighthouse containing the light
• a structure with glazed or open sides above an opening in a roof for light or ventilation

Meaning: a usually portable protective case for a light with transparent openings compare chinese lantern; lighthouse; the chamber in a lighthouse containing the light.

Etymology: Middle English lanterne; from Anglo-French; from Latin lanterna; from Greek lampter; from lampein to shine lamp.

Topics: Household:Objects.

Origin: From Latin to English.

note: An alternate historical spelling was 'lanthorn' possibly derived from the ancient use of animal horn to cover window apertures but allow in light.

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Is 'chocolate' English, or is it actually Spanish?

'Chocolate' is a word borrowed from Spanish 'chocolate'. The word entered the English language some time around 1604.

chocolate [noun] [1604]

• a beverage made by mixing chocolate with water or milk
• a food prepared from ground roasted cacao beans
• a small candy with a center (as a fondant) and a chocolate coating
• a brownish gray

Meaning: sweet food from roasted cacao.

Etymology: From Spanish chocolate from Nahuatl chocolatl.

Topics: Food:Sweets, Linguistics.

Origin: From Nahuatl to Spanish to English.

note: Meaning: sweet food from roasted cacao. Etymology: From Spanish chocolate from Nahuatl chocolatl.

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