The Italian roots of the word 'staccato'

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

staccato [adjective] [circa 1724]

• cut short or apart in performing
• disconnected
• marked by short clear-cut playing or singing of tones or chords
• abrupt

Meaning: cut short or apart in performing : disconnected staccato notes; marked by short clear-cut playing or singing of tones or chords a staccato style; abrupt disjointed staccato screams.

Etymology: Italian; from past participle of staccare to detach; from s- ex- (from Latin ex- ) + at taccare to attack; attach; perhaps from Old French estachier attach.

Topics: Arts:Music.

Origin: From Italian to English.

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Is 'simoom' English, or is it actually Arabic?

'Simoom' is a word borrowed from Arabic 'samūm'. The word entered the English language some time around 1790.

simoom [noun] [1790]

A hot dry violent dust-laden wind from Asian and African deserts
Meaning: a hot dry violent dust-laden wind from Asian and African deserts.

Etymology: Arabic samum.

Topics: Geography:Landforms, Weather.

Origin: From Arabic to English.

note: A hot dry dust laden desert wind of North Africa and Arabia. From Arabic samum meaning poison wind. Also appears as simoon in older English.

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The Spanish (Mexico) roots of the word 'tequila'

'Tequila' is a word borrowed from Spanish (Mexico) 'tequila'. The word entered the English language some time around 1849.

tequila [noun] [1849]

A Mexican liquor distilled from the fermented sap of an agave (Agave tequilana)
Meaning: a Mexican liquor distilled from the fermented sap of an agave ( Agave tequilana ).

Etymology: Spanish; from Tequila; town in Jalisco state; Mexico.

Topics: Food:Beverages.

Origin: From Spanish to Nahuatl to English.

note: A Mexican spirit distilled from blue agave with protected designation around the town of Tequila Spanish name from the place likely of Nahuatl origin often contrasted with mezcal.

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The word 'cop' is a loan word from Latin 'capere'

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

cop [noun] [before 12th century]

• top
• a cylindrical or conical mass of thread, yarn, or roving wound on a quill or tube
• a quill or tube upon which it is wound

Meaning: top crest; a cylindrical or conical mass of thread; yarn; or roving wound on a quill or tube; a quill or tube upon which it is wound.

Etymology: Middle English; from Old English copp.

Topics: Law:Government.

Origin: From Latin to English.

note: Slang for a police officer derived from the 18th-century verb cop meaning to seize or catch (from the Latin capere). An officer who caught criminals was originally called a copper—a term later shortened to cop.

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When you say 'synapse' are you speaking Greek?

'Synapse' is a word borrowed from Greek 'synapsis'. The word entered the English language some time around 1910.

synapse [verb] [1910]

• to form a synapse
• to come together in

Meaning: Junction where nerve signals pass between cells.

Etymology: Greek synapsis meaning conjunction.

Origins: From Greek to English. Alternatively: From Greek to New Latin to English.

note: Meaning: Junction where nerve signals pass between cells. Etymology: From Greek synapsis. Merriam-Webster gives New Latin as intermediary.

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Do you speak a little Italian when you say 'sirocco'?

'Sirocco' is a word borrowed from Italian 'scirocco'. The word entered the English language some time around 1617.

sirocco [noun] [1617]

• a hot dust-laden wind from the Libyan deserts that blows on the northern Mediterranean coast chiefly in Italy, Malta, a...
• a warm moist oppressive southeast wind in the same regions
• a hot or warm wind of cyclonic origin from an arid or heated region

Meaning: a hot dust-laden wind from the Libyan deserts that blows on the northern Mediterranean coast chiefly in Italy; Malta; and Sicily; a warm moist oppressive southeast wind in the same regions; a hot or warm wind of cyclonic origin from an arid or heated region.

Etymology: Italian scirocco; sirocco; alteration of Old Italian scilocco; from Arabic dialect (Maghreb) sloq southeast wind; alteration of Arabic shaluq; shuluq.

Topics: Weather.

Origin: From Arabic to English.

note: The word siricco refers to Sirocco a hot dry dusty wind that blows from North Africa across the Mediterranean Sea. Its etymology traces back to the Italian word scirocco which itself derives from the Arabic word šarq meaning east. Therefore the name ultimately refers to the wind blowing from the east.

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When you hear 'tatami' are you hearing English or Japanese?

'Tatami' is a word borrowed from Japanese 'tatami'. The word entered the English language some time around 1614.

tatami [noun] [1614]

Straw matting used as a floor covering in a Japanese home
Meaning: straw matting used as a floor covering in a Japanese home.

Etymology: Japanese.

Topics: Household:Furniture.

Origin: From Japanese to English.

note: From Japanese tatami (畳) derived from the verb tatamu (to fold or to pile). This refers to the early form of the mats which were thin and foldable unlike the modern thick rigid mats.

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The word 'thrall' is a loan word from Scandinavian 'thraell'

'Thrall' is a word borrowed from Scandinavian 'thraell'. The word entered the English language some time before the 12th century.

thrall [noun] [before 12th century]

• a servant slave
• bondman
• serf
• a person in moral or mental servitude
• a state of servitude or submission

Meaning: a servant slave : bondman; serf; a person in moral or mental servitude.

Etymology: Middle English thral; from Old English thrl; from Old Norse thrll.

Topics: Society:Culture.

Origin: From Scandinavian to English.

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Do you speak a little Greek when you say 'school'?

'School' is a word borrowed from Greek 'schole'. The word entered the English language some time around the 15th century.

school [verb] [15th century]

• to teach or drill in a specific knowledge or skill
• to discipline or habituate to something
• to educate in an institution of learning

Meaning: Institution for teaching and learning.

Etymology: From Greek schole via Latin schola and Old English scol.

Origin: From Greek to Latin to Old English to English.

note: Meaning: Institution for teaching and learning. Etymology: From Greek schole via Latin and Old English.

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Do you speak a little Spanish when you say 'tornado'?

'Tornado' is a word borrowed from Spanish 'tronada'. The word entered the English language some time around 1556.

tornado [noun] [1556]

• a tropical thunderstorm
• a squall accompanying a thunderstorm in Africa
• a violent destructive whirling wind accompanied by a funnel-shaped cloud that progresses in a narrow path over the land
• a violent windstorm
• whirlwind

Meaning: a tropical thunderstorm; a squall accompanying a thunderstorm in Africa; a violent destructive whirling wind accompanied by a funnel-shaped cloud that progresses in a narrow path over the land.

Etymology: modification of Spanish tronada thunderstorm; from tronar to thunder; from Latin tonare thunder.

Topics: Weather.

Origin: From Spanish to English.

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The Latin origins of the word 'tonsorial'

'Tonsorial' is a word borrowed from Latin 'tonsorius'. The word entered the English language some time around 1813.

tonsorial [adjective] [1813]

Of or relating to a barber or the work of a barber
Meaning: relating to barbers or barbering.

Etymology: From Latin tonsorius from tondere.

Topics: Society:Culture.

Origin: From Latin to English.

note: Meaning: Relating to barbers or barbering. Etymology: From Latin tonsorius from tondere. Path: Latin > English.

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The word 'tavern' originally came from Latin as 'taberna'

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

tavern [noun] [14th century]

• an establishment where alcoholic beverages are sold to be drunk on the premises
• inn

Meaning: an establishment where alcoholic beverages are sold to be drunk on the premises; inn.

Etymology: Middle English taverne; from Anglo-French; from Latin taberna hut; shop.

Topics: Food:Beverages.

Origin: From Latin to French to English.

note: The term 'tavern' for an establishment originates from the Latin word taberna meaning a hut booth or single-room shop. Over centuries it evolved via Old French into an establishment serving food and drinks.

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When you say 'synopsis' are you speaking Latin?

'Synopsis' is a word borrowed from Latin 'synopsis'. The word entered the English language some time around 1603.

synopsis [noun] [1603]

• a condensed statement or outline (as of a narrative or treatise)
• abstract
• the abbreviated conjugation of a verb in one person only

Meaning: Brief summary or outline of a work.

Etymology: From Late Latin synopsis ultimately from Greek.

Origin: From Greek to Late Latin to English.

note: Meaning: Brief summary or outline of a work. Etymology: Via Late Latin from Greek.

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