Saturday, 21 March 2026

Is 'pelmeni' English, or is it actually Russian?

'Pelmeni' is a word borrowed from Russian 'pelmen'.


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

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note: Russian meat dumplings that are often served in broth. Pelmeni became a staple of Russian cuisine during the period of Russian expansion into the Ural Mountains and Siberia. Pelmeni also have deep roots in the traditions and folklore of the Komi and Udmurtia regions of Russia and figure prominently in Komi and Udmurt cuisine.
Etymology: -
See more loan words from (unknown date).

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

'Yakuza' is a word borrowed from Japanese 'yakuza'. The word entered the English language some time around 1964.


yakuza [noun] [1964]
  • a Japanese gangster
  • an organized crime syndicate in Japan
See 'yakuza' on the Loan Words Map

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Etymology: Japanese, ruffian, gangster
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When you say 'crepuscular' are you speaking Latin?

'Crepuscular' is a word borrowed from Latin 'crepusculum'. The word entered the English language some time around 1668.


crepuscular [adjective] [1668]
  • of, relating to, or resembling twilight
  • dim
  • occurring or active during twilight
See 'crepuscular' on the Loan Words Map

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note: Mid 17th century: from Latin crepusculum ‘twilight’.
Etymology: -
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The Italian origins of the word 'quarantine'

'Quarantine' is a word borrowed from Italian 'quaranta giorni'. The word entered the English language some time around 1609.


quarantine [noun] [1609]
  • a period of 40 days
  • a term during which a ship arriving in port and suspected of carrying contagious disease is held in isolation from the ...
  • a regulation placing a ship in quarantine
  • a place where a ship is detained during quarantine
See 'quarantine' on the Loan Words Map

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note: From the 14th-century Italian phrase quaranta giorni meaning 40 days. It stems from the Venetian practice of forcing ships to anchor for 40 days to prevent the spread of the plague. 14th Century Origin: The term arose during the Black Death in Europe when Mediterranean ports required ships to isolate. Venetian Practice: The Republic of Ragusa (modern-day Dubrovnik) first implemented a 30-day isolation period (trentino) in 1377 which was later extended to 40 days (quarantino or quarantena). Why 40 Days? The 40-day period may have been chosen for its biblical significance (e.g. Jesus in the desert Lent) or simply deemed sufficient to ensure a ship was safe.
Etymology: Partly modification of French 'quarantaine' from Old French, from 'quarante' forty, from Latin 'quadraginta' from 'quadra-' (akin to 'quattuor' four) + '-ginta' (akin to vi'ginti' twenty); partly modification of Italian 'quarantena' quarantine of a ship, from 'quaranta' forty, from Latin 'quadraginta'
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Is 'bully' English, or is it actually Dutch?

'Bully' is a word borrowed from Dutch 'boele'. The word entered the English language some time around 1538.


bully [noun] [1538]
  • sweetheart
  • a fine chap
  • a blustering browbeating person
  • one habitually cruel to others who are weaker
See 'bully' on the Loan Words Map

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note: Original use was as a term of endearment applied to either sex. Later became a familiar form of address to a male friend. The current sense dates from the late 17th century.
Etymology: Probably from Middle Dutch 'boele' lover; akin to Middle Low German 'bōle' lover, Middle High German 'buole'
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When you say 'rickshaw' are you speaking Japanese?

'Rickshaw' is a word borrowed from Japanese 'jinricksha'. The word entered the English language some time around 1887.


rickshaw [noun] [1887]
A small covered 2-wheeled vehicle usually for one passenger that is pulled by one man and that was used originally in J...
See 'rickshaw' on the Loan Words Map

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note: jin means man - riki means strength or power and sha means carriage. Rickshaws originated in Japan where they were first used in the late 1800s.
Etymology: Alteration of 'jinrikisha'
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Latin 'sudorificus' in the English language

'Sudorific' is a word borrowed from Latin 'sudorificus'. The word entered the English language some time around 1626.


sudorific [adjective] [1626]
Causing or inducing sweat - diaphoretic
See 'sudorific' on the Loan Words Map

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note: Sudorific (adj./n.) meaning causing sweat or a drug that induces perspiration. Originated in the 1620s from New Latin sudorificus. It combines the Latin sudor (sweat from Proto Indo European root sweyd-) with the suffix -ficus from facere (to make do). It denotes agents that promote sweating.
Etymology: New Latin 'sudorificus' from Latin 'sudor'
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Saturday, 7 March 2026

The Latin roots of the word 'mansion'

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


mansion [noun] [14th century]
  • the act of remaining or dwelling
  • stay
  • dwelling
  • manor house
  • a large imposing residence
See 'mansion' on the Loan Words Map

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Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin 'mansion-, mansio' from 'manēre' to remain, dwell; akin to Greek 'menein' to remain
See more loan words from 1300s.


How the Latin language influenced English with the word 'poultice'

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


poultice [noun] [15th century]
A soft usually heated and sometimes medicated mass spread on cloth and applied to sores or other lesions
See 'poultice' on the Loan Words Map

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Etymology: Middle English 'pultes' from Medieval Latin, literally, pap, from Latin, plural of 'pult-, puls' porridge
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Did you know that 'trombone' is actually Italian?

'Trombone' is a word borrowed from Italian 'tromba'. The word entered the English language some time around 1724.


trombone [noun] [circa 1724]
A brass instrument consisting of a long cylindrical metal tube with two turns and having a movable slide or valves for ...
See 'trombone' on the Loan Words Map

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Etymology: Italian, augmentative of 'tromba' trumpet, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German 'trumba, trumpa' trumpet
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The French roots of the word 'parakeet'

'Parakeet' is a word borrowed from French 'peroquet'. The word entered the English language some time around 1581.


parakeet [noun] [1581]
Any of numerous usually small slender parrots with a long graduated tail
See 'parakeet' on the Loan Words Map

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note: Comes from a series of borrowed words from Spanish French and Italian with a Middle French origin. The French word paroquet is likely a diminutive of the name Pierre (Peter) possibly influenced by the Italian parrocchetto or Spanish periquito which literally mean little priest or little parrot.
Etymology: Spanish & Middle French; Spanish 'periquito' from Middle French 'perroquet' parrot
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Do you speak a little Latin when you say 'armature'?

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


armature [noun] [15th century]
  • an organ or structure (as teeth or thorns) for offense or defense
  • a piece of soft iron or steel that connects the poles of a magnet or of adjacent magnets
  • a usually rotating part of an electric machine (as a generator or motor) which consists essentially of coils of wire ar...
  • the movable part of an electromagnetic device (as a loudspeaker)
See 'armature' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Latin.

note: Late Middle English: from French from Latin armatura ‘armour’ from armare ‘to arm’. The original sense was ‘armour’ hence ‘protective covering’ (armature early 18th century) later ‘keeper of a magnet’ source of armature (mid 19th century).
Etymology: Middle English, armor, from Latin 'armatura' armor, equipment, from 'armatus'
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Is 'landscape' English, or is it actually Dutch?

'Landscape' is a word borrowed from Dutch 'landschap'. The word entered the English language some time around 1598.


landscape [noun] [1598]
  • a picture representing a view of natural inland scenery
  • the art of depicting such scenery
  • the of a region in the aggregate
  • a portion of territory that can be viewed at one time from one place
See 'landscape' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Dutch.

note: The word landscape comes from the Dutch landschap meaning region or tract of land borrowed into English around 1600 as an art term for a painting of scenery derived from land (land) and -schap (-ship meaning condition/shape). Early English forms like landskip existed but the Dutch artistic sense referring to a picture of natural views popularized the word eventually applying to actual views and areas.
Etymology: Dutch 'landschap' from 'land' + '-schap' -ship
See more loan words from 1500s.