Monday, 2 March 2026

When you say 'doge' are you speaking French?

'Doge' is a word borrowed from French 'doge'. The word entered the English language some time around 1549.


doge [noun] [1549]
The chief magistrate in the republics of Venice and Genoa
See 'doge' on the Loan Words Map

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note: French from Venetian Italian doze from Latin dux or duc.
Etymology: Italian dialect, from Latin 'duc-, dux' leader
See more loan words from 1500s.


German 'hexen' in the English language

'Hex' is a word borrowed from German 'hexen'. The word entered the English language some time around 1830.


hex [verb] [1830]
  • to practice witchcraft
  • to put a hex on
  • to affect as if by an evil spell
  • jinx
See 'hex' on the Loan Words Map

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Etymology: Pennsylvania German 'hexe' from German 'hexen' from 'Hexe' witch, from Old High German 'hagzissa;' akin to Middle English 'hagge' hag
See more loan words from 1800s.


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

'Buoy' is a word borrowed from Spanish 'boya'. The word entered the English language some time around the 13th century.


buoy [noun] [13th century]
  • float
  • a floating object moored to the bottom to mark a channel or something (as a shoal) lying under the water
  • life buoy
See 'buoy' on the Loan Words Map

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note: Middle English: probably from Middle Dutch boye/boeie from a Germanic base meaning ‘signal’. The verb is from Spanish boyar ‘to float’ from boya ‘buoy’. Consider also buoyant.
Etymology: Middle English 'boye' probably from Middle Dutch 'boeye;' akin to Old High German 'bouhhan' sign
See more loan words from 1200s.


Chinese 'sampan' in the English language

'Sampan' is a word borrowed from Chinese 'sampan'. The word entered the English language some time around 1620.


sampan [noun] [1620]
A flat-bottomed skiff used in eastern Asia and usually propelled by two short oars
See 'sampan' on the Loan Words Map

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Etymology: Chinese (Guangdong) 'sàambáan' from 'sàam' three + 'báan' board, plank
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Is 'murmuration' English, or is it actually Latin?

'Murmuration' is a word borrowed from Latin 'murmuratio'.


murmuration
(details not available)
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note: From the Latin murmuratio meaning murmuring or grumbling and was borrowed into Middle English via Old French. The term originally referred to the sound of a low continuous noise or a grumble which was then applied to the sound of a large flock of starlings flying. Connection to sound: It is related to the sound of a continuous low noise and also has an ancient origin in words like the Sanskrit marmara for the rustling of leaves or water and the Greek mormyrien for to boil.
Etymology: -
See more loan words from (unknown date).

Do you speak a little Latin when you say 'castle'?

'Castle' is a word borrowed from Latin 'castellum'. The word entered the English language some time before the 12th century.


castle [noun] [before 12th century]
  • a large fortified building or set of buildings
  • a massive or imposing house
  • a retreat safe against intrusion or invasion
  • rook
See 'castle' on the Loan Words Map

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Etymology: Middle English 'castel' from Old English, from Old French & Latin; Old French dialect (Norman-Picard) 'castel' from Latin 'castellum' fortress, diminutive of 'castrum' fortified place; perhaps akin to Latin 'castrare' to castrate
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When you say 'haberdasher' are you speaking French?

'Haberdasher' is a word borrowed from French 'hapertas'. The word entered the English language some time around the 14th century.


haberdasher [noun] [14th century]
  • a dealer in notions
  • a dealer in men's clothing and accessories
See 'haberdasher' on the Loan Words Map

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Etymology: Middle English 'haberdassher' from modification of Anglo-French 'hapertas' kind of cloth
See more loan words from 1300s.


Italian 'con sordini' in the English language

'Con sordini' is a word borrowed from Italian 'con sordini'.


con sordini
(details not available)
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note: Con sordini comes from Italian meaning with mutes combining con (with) and sordini (plural of sordino meaning mute/damper) ultimately from Latin surdus (deaf). It's a musical direction telling players to use mutes on brass/strings or (on piano) to release the damper pedal for a muffled softer sound with senza sordini meaning without mutes.
Etymology: -
See more loan words from (unknown date).

Japanese 'han chō' in the English language

'Honcho' is a word borrowed from Japanese 'han chō'. The word entered the English language some time around 1955.


honcho [noun] [1955]
  • boss
  • hotshot
See 'honcho' on the Loan Words Map

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Etymology: Japanese 'hanchō' squad leader, from 'han' squad + 'chō' head, chief
See more loan words from 1950s.


Sunday, 1 March 2026

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

'Tonsils' is a word borrowed from Latin 'tonsillae'. The word entered the English language some time around 1601.


tonsils [noun] [1601]
  • either of a pair of prominent masses of lymphoid tissue that lie one on each side of the throat between two folds of so...
  • any of various masses of lymphoid tissue (as the adenoids) that are similar to
See 'tonsils' on the Loan Words Map

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Etymology: Latin 'tonsillae' plural, tonsils
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Do you speak a little French when you say 'palsy'?

'Palsy' is a word borrowed from French 'paralisie'. The word entered the English language some time around the 14th century.


palsy [noun] [14th century]
  • paralysis
  • a condition marked by uncontrollable tremor of the body or a part
See 'palsy' on the Loan Words Map

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note: Derived from Old French palasie which is a shortening of paralisie stemming from Latin paralysis and ultimately from Greek paralysia (paralysis loosening). It refers to paralysis or uncontrollable tremors.
Etymology: Middle English 'palesie' alteration of 'parlesey' from Anglo-French 'paralisie' from Latin 'paralysis'
See more loan words from 1300s.


Do you speak a little Romani when you say 'shiv'?

'Shiv' is a word borrowed from Romani 'chiv'. The word entered the English language some time around 1915.


shiv [noun] [1915]
Knife
See 'shiv' on the Loan Words Map

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note: Probably from Romani chiv ‘blade’.
Etymology: Alteration of 'chiv' of unknown origin
See more loan words from 1910s.


The Latin origins of the word 'rude'

'Rude' is a word borrowed from Latin 'rudis'. The word entered the English language some time around the 14th century.


rude [adjective] [14th century]
  • being in a rough or unfinished state
  • crude
  • natural
  • primitive
  • simple
See 'rude' on the Loan Words Map

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Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin 'rudis;' probably akin to Latin 'rudus' rubble
See more loan words from 1300s.