The word 'hockey' is a loan word from French 'hoquet'

'Hockey' is a word borrowed from French 'hoquet'. The word entered the English language some time around 1527.

hockey [noun] [1527]

• field hockey
• ice hockey

Meaning: field hockey; ice hockey.

Etymology: perhaps from Middle French hoquet shepherd's crook; diminutive of hoc hook; of Germanic origin; akin to Old English hoc hook.

Topics: Sports:Games.

Origin: From French to English.

note: The exact origin is uncertain but it is likely from Middle French hoquet (a crook curved stick) referring to the stick used to play the game perhaps originating in the 16th century or earlier in Britain.

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The French roots of the word 'cantaloupe'

'Cantaloupe' is a word borrowed from French 'cantaloup'. The word entered the English language some time around 1739.

cantaloupe [noun] [1739]

• a small widely cultivated muskmelon (Cucumis melo reticulatus) with a heavily netted rind and reddish-orange flesh
• muskmelon
• a muskmelon (Cucumis melo cantalupensis) with a rough hard warty rind that is not usually grown in North America

Meaning: a small widely cultivated muskmelon ( Cucumis melo reticulatus ) with a heavily netted rind and reddish-orange flesh; muskmelon a; a muskmelon ( Cucumis melo cantalupensis ) with a rough hard warty rind that is not usually grown in North America.

Etymology: Cantalupo; former papal villa near Rome; Italy.

Topics: Plants:Fruits, Food:Sweets, Geography:Regions.

Origin: From Italian to French to English.

note: A sweet orange fleshed muskmelon named after Cantalupo near Rome borrowed via French cantaloup from Italian place name.

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Do you speak a little Dutch when you say 'shank'?

'Shank' is a word borrowed from Dutch 'schenk'. The word entered the English language some time before the 12th century.

shank [noun] [before 12th century]

• the part of the leg between the knee and the ankle in humans or the corresponding part in various other vertebrates
• leg
• a cut of beef, veal, mutton, or lamb from the upper or the lower part of the leg
• shin
• a straight narrow usually essential part of an object
• as

Meaning: the part of the leg between the knee and the ankle in humans or the corresponding part in various other vertebrates; leg; a cut of beef; veal; mutton; or lamb from the upper or the lower part of the leg : shin see beef illustration.

Etymology: Middle English shanke; from Old English scanca; akin to Old Norse skakkr crooked; Greek skazein to limp.

Topics: Medicine:Anatomy, Food:Meat.

Origin: From Dutch to English.

note: Old English sceanca of West Germanic origin. Related to Dutch schenk ‘leg bone’ and German Schenkel ‘thigh’. The use of the verb as a golfing term dates from the 1920s. Related: in the sense of a knife there is Gaelic sceanca (knives).

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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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