Tuesday, 24 February 2026

Did you know that 'ancient' is actually Latin?

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


ancient [adjective] [14th century]
  • having had an existence of many years
  • of or relating to a remote period, to a time early in history, or to those living in such a period or time
  • of or relating to the historical period beginning with the earliest known civilizations and extending to the fall of th...
  • having the qualities of age or long existence
  • as
See 'ancient' on the Loan Words Map

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Etymology: Middle English 'ancien' from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin '*anteanus' from Latin 'ante' before
See more loan words from 1300s.


When you say 'trenchant' are you speaking French?

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


trenchant [adjective] [14th century]
  • keen
  • vigorously effective and articulate
  • caustic
  • sharply perceptive
  • penetrating
See 'trenchant' on the Loan Words Map

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note: The word trenchant comes from Old French where trenchant was the present participle of trenchier meaning to cut. The word's origin is related to the modern English words trench a cut into the ground and retrench meaning to cut down. Therefore a trenchant remark or analysis is one that is sharp cutting and penetrates to the heart of a matter.
Etymology: Middle English 'trenchaunt' from Anglo-French, present participle of 'trencher'
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When you hear 'museum' are you hearing English or Greek?

'Museum' is a word borrowed from Greek 'mouseion'. The word entered the English language some time around 1672.


museum [noun] [1672]
  • an institution devoted to the procurement, care, study, and display of objects of lasting interest or value
  • a place where objects are exhibited
See 'museum' on the Loan Words Map

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note: Denoting a university building (specifically one erected at Alexandria by Ptolemy Soter): via Latin from Greek mouseion ‘seat of the Muses’ - based on mousa ‘muse’.
Etymology: Latin 'Museum' place for learned occupation, from Greek 'Mouseion' from neuter of 'Mouseios' of the Muses, from 'Mousa'
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Do you speak a little Arabic when you say 'gazelle'?

'Gazelle' is a word borrowed from Arabic 'ghazāl'. The word entered the English language some time around 1600.


gazelle [noun] [1600]
Any of numerous small to medium graceful and swift African and Asian antelopes ( and related genera)
See 'gazelle' on the Loan Words Map

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Etymology: French, from Middle French, from Arabic 'ghazāl'
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The French roots of the word 'bouillon'

'Bouillon' is a word borrowed from French 'bouillon'. The word entered the English language some time around 1656.


bouillon [noun] [circa 1656]
  • a clear seasoned soup made usually from lean beef
  • broth
See 'bouillon' on the Loan Words Map

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Etymology: French, from Old French 'boillon' from 'boillir' to boil
See more loan words from 1600s.


The French origins of the word 'chamois'

'Chamois' is a word borrowed from French 'chamois'. The word entered the English language some time around 1560.


chamois [noun] [1560]
  • a small goatlike bovid (Rupicapra rupicapra) of mountainous regions from southern Europe to the Caucasus
  • a soft pliant leather prepared from the skin of the chamois or from sheepskin
  • a cotton fabric made in imitation of chamois leather
See 'chamois' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from French.

note: The word chamois comes from French ultimately from Late Latin camox referring to the agile Alpine antelope; it entered English around the 1550s for the animal then the soft leather (made from its skin or similar) by the 1570s. Derived from an extinct Alpine language possibly Raetic or Ligurian related to crooked for its hooked horns.
Etymology: Middle French, from Late Latin 'camox'
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Is 'tramontane' English, or is it actually Italian?

'Tramontane' is a word borrowed from Italian 'tramontana'. The word entered the English language some time around 1596.


tramontane [adjective] [1596]
  • transalpine
  • lying on or coming from the other side of a mountain range
See 'tramontane' on the Loan Words Map

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Etymology: Italian 'tramontano' from Latin 'transmontanus' from 'trans-' + 'mont-, mons' mountain
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When you say 'tarantella' are you speaking Italian?

'Tarantella' is a word borrowed from Italian 'tarantella'. The word entered the English language some time around 1782.


tarantella [noun] [1782]
A lively folk dance of southern Italy in time
See 'tarantella' on the Loan Words Map

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Etymology: Italian, from 'Taranto' Italy
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Did you know that 'paparazzi' is actually Italian?

'Paparazzi' is a word borrowed from Italian 'paparazzo'. The word entered the English language some time around 1961.


paparazzi [noun] [1961]
A freelance photographer who aggressively pursues celebrities for the purpose of taking candid photographs
See 'paparazzi' on the Loan Words Map

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Etymology: Italian, from 'Paparazzo' surname of such a photographer in the film 'La dolce vita' (1959) by Federico Fellini
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French 'perrot' in the English language

'Parrot' is a word borrowed from French 'perrot'. The word entered the English language some time around 1525.


parrot [noun] [circa 1525]
  • any of numerous widely distributed tropical birds (order Psittaciformes and especially family Psittacidae) that are oft...
  • a person who sedulously echoes another's words
See 'parrot' on the Loan Words Map

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note: Probably from dialect French perrot diminutive of the male given name Pierre ‘Peter’. Compare with parakeet.
Etymology: Probably modification of Middle French 'perroquet'
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Do you speak a little Japanese when you say 'wabi-sabi'?

'Wabi-sabi' is a word borrowed from Japanese 'wabi-sabi'.


wabi-sabi
(details not available)
See 'wabi-sabi' on the Loan Words Map

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note: In traditional Japanese aesthetics wabi-sabi (侘び寂び) is centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection.
Etymology: -
See more loan words from (unknown date).

The word 'topaz' is a loan word from Greek 'topazos'

'Topaz' is a word borrowed from Greek 'topazos'. The word entered the English language some time around the 13th century.


topaz [noun] [13th century]
  • a mineral that is essentially a silicate of aluminum and usually occurs in orthorhombic translucent or transparent crys...
  • a usually yellow to brownish-yellow transparent mineral topaz used as a gem
  • a yellow sapphire
  • a yellow quartz
See 'topaz' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Greek.

Etymology: Middle English 'topace' from Anglo-French, from Latin 'topazus' from Greek 'topazos'
See more loan words from 1200s.


The Armenian roots of the word 'duduk'

'Duduk' is a word borrowed from Armenian 'duduk'.


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

See more loan words from Armenian.

note: An 'apricot-made wind instrument' is a double reed woodwind instrument made of apricot wood originating from Armenia.
Etymology: -
See more loan words from (unknown date).