Loan Words in the English Language

Friday, 6 March 2026

Did you know that 'mustard' is actually French?

'Mustard' is a word borrowed from French 'moustarde'. The word entered the English language some time around the 13th century.

mustard [noun] [13th century]

a pungent yellow powder of the seeds of any of several common Brassica hirta, B. nigra, ( or ) used as a condiment or i...
zest
any of several herbs (genus Brassica of the family Cruciferae syn. Brassicaceae, the mustard family) with lobed leaves,...
a dark to moderate yellow

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note: The word mustard originates from the Latin term *mustum ardens* translating to burning must. This refers to the Roman practice of mixing ground mustard seeds with must (unfermented fresh grape juice) to create a pungent paste. The term passed through Old French (moustarde) before entering Middle English in the 13th century.
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French 'mustarde' from 'must' must, from Latin 'mustum'

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Wednesday, 4 March 2026

Did you know that 'kvass' is actually Russian?

'Kvass' is a word borrowed from Russian 'kvas'. The word entered the English language some time around 1553.

kvass [noun] [circa 1553]

A slightly alcoholic beverage of eastern Europe made from fermented mixed cereals and often flavored

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note: Kvass (pronounced kvahs) is a traditional Slavic fermented low-alcohol beverage made from rye bread. The word comes from the Old East Slavic *kvasŭ (leaven fermented drink) rooted in the Proto-Slavic *kvasu which means sour or leaven. It is ultimately derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *kwh₂et- (to become sour or to ferment).
Etymology: Russian 'kvas'

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The word 'persimmon' is a loan word from Amerindian 'pasiminan'

'Persimmon' is a word borrowed from Amerindian 'pasiminan'. The word entered the English language some time around 1612.

persimmon [noun] [1612]

any of a genus (Diospyros) of trees of the ebony family with hard fine wood, oblong leaves, and small bell-shaped flo...
an eastern United States tree D. kaki (D. virginiana) or a Japanese tree ()
the usually orange several-seeded globular berry of a persimmon that is edible when fully ripe but usually extremely as...

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Etymology: Virginia Algonquian 'pessemmin'

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Did you know that 'macaronic' is actually Italian?

'Macaronic' is a word borrowed from Italian 'macaroni.'. The word entered the English language some time around 1638.

macaronic [adjective] [1638]

characterized by a mixture of vernacular words with Latin words or with non-Latin words having Latin endings
characterized by a mixture of two languages

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Etymology: New Latin 'macaronicus' from Italian dialect 'maccarone' macaroni

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How the Greek language influenced English with the word 'amphibian'

'Amphibian' is a word borrowed from Greek 'amphibios'. The word entered the English language some time around 1835.

amphibian [noun] [1835]

an organism
any of a class (Amphibia) of cold-blooded vertebrates (as frogs, toads, or salamanders) intermediate in many characters...
an amphibious vehicle
an airplane designed to take off from and land on either land or water

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note: In the sense ‘having two modes of existence or of doubtful nature': amphi (both) + bios (life).
Etymology: Ultimately from Greek 'amphibion' amphibious being, from neuter of 'amphibios'

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Is 'dreggs' English, or is it actually Swedish?

'Dreggs' is a word borrowed from Swedish 'drägg'.

dreggs

(details not available)

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note: Middle English: probably of Scandinavian origin and related to Swedish drägg (plural).
Etymology: -

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Is 'escutcheon' English, or is it actually Latin?

'Escutcheon' is a word borrowed from Latin 'scutum'. The word entered the English language some time around the 15th century.

escutcheon [noun] [15th century]

a defined area on which armorial bearings are displayed and which usually consists of a shield
a protective or ornamental plate or flange (as around a keyhole)
the part of a ship's stern on which the name is displayed

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Etymology: Middle English 'escochon' from Anglo-French 'escuchoun' from Vulgar Latin '*scution-, scutio' from Latin 'scutum' shield

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When you hear 'anchovy' are you hearing English or Portuguese?

'Anchovy' is a word borrowed from Portuguese 'anchova'. The word entered the English language some time around 1595.

anchovy [noun] [1595]

Any of a family (Engraulidae) of small fishes resembling herrings that includes several (as ) that are important food f...

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Etymology: Spanish 'anchova'

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How the German language influenced English with the word 'quaff'

'Quaff' is a word borrowed from German 'quassen'. The word entered the English language some time around 1523.

quaff [verb] [1523]

to drink deeply
to drink (a beverage) deeply

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note: A word of obscure origin perhaps imitative or perhaps from Low German quassen to overindulge (in food and drink).
Etymology: origin unknown

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When you say 'quinsy' are you speaking Greek?

'Quinsy' is a word borrowed from Greek 'kynanchē'. The word entered the English language some time around the 14th century.

quinsy [noun] [14th century]

An abscess in the tissue around a tonsil usually resulting from bacterial infection and often accompanied by pain and f...

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note: The word quinsy comes from Middle English which is a corruption of the Greek word kynanchē meaning dog strangulation. This name was likely given because of the way a person with the condition (a peritonsillar abscess) throws open their mouth in distress. The Greek term is made up of kyn- (dog) and anchein (to strangle).
Etymology: Middle English 'quinesie' from Anglo-French 'esquinauncy, quinancie' from Late Latin 'cynanche' from Greek 'kynanchē' from 'kyn-, kyōn' dog + 'anchein' to strangle

See more loan words from 1300s.