How the Persian language influenced English with the word 'divan'

'Divan' is a word borrowed from Persian 'divan'. The word entered the English language some time around 1586.

divan [noun] [1586]

• the privy council of the Ottoman Empire
• council
• a council chamber
• a large couch usually without back or arms often designed for use as a bed

Meaning: the privy council of the Ottoman Empire; council; a council chamber.

Etymology: Turkish; from Persian divan account book.

Topics: Household:Furniture.

Origin: From Turkish to Persian to English.

note: Derived from Turkish divan originating in Persian dēvān (bundle of written sheets/small book/collection of poems/archive). It historically passed through meanings of book of accounts customs house council chamber and finally to long cushioned seat (sofa) because such seats were found in council chambers.

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The word 'bezoar' originally came from Persian as 'pādzahr'

'Bezoar' is a word borrowed from Persian 'pādzahr'. The word entered the English language some time around 1577.

bezoar [noun] [1577]

Any of various calculi found chiefly in the gastrointestinal organs and formerly believed to possess magical properties
Meaning: any of various calculi found chiefly in the gastrointestinal organs and formerly believed to possess magical properties called also bezoar stone.

Etymology: Middle French; from Medieval Latin; from Arabic dialect bezuwar; from Arabic bazahr; from Persian pad-zahr; from pad protecting (against) + zahr poison.

Topics: Society:Culture.

Origin: From Persian to English.

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When you say 'goo' are you speaking Persian?

'Goo' is a word borrowed from Persian 'bulġūr'. The word entered the English language some time around 1900.

goo [noun] [1900]

• a viscid or sticky substance
• sentimental tripe

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note: Early 20th century (originally US): perhaps from burgoo a nautical slang term for porridge based on Persian bulġūr ‘bruised grain’.
Etymology: Perhaps short for 'burgoo'

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When you hear 'caftan' are you hearing English or Persian?

'Caftan' is a word borrowed from Persian 'kaftan'. The word entered the English language some time around 1591.

caftan [noun] [1591]

A usually cotton or silk ankle-length garment with long sleeves that is common throughout the Levant

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Etymology: Russian & Turkish; Russian 'kaftan' from Turkish, from Persian 'qaftān'

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When you say 'seersucker' are you speaking Persian?

'Seersucker' is a word borrowed from Persian 'shir-o-shakkar'. The word entered the English language some time around 1722.

seersucker [noun] [1722]

A light fabric of linen, cotton, or rayon usually striped and slightly puckered

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note: Originates from the Persian phrase shir-o-shakkar which means milk and sugar. Adopted into Hindi as sirsakar and English in the early 1700s. The name refers to the alternating smooth (milk) and puckered (sugar) textures of the fabric.
Etymology: Hindi 'śīr-śakkar, sīr-sakkar' & Urdu 'shīrshakar' literally, milk and sugar, from Persian 'shīr-o-shakar'

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The Persian roots of the word 'spinach'

'Spinach' is a word borrowed from Persian 'aspānāḵ'. The word entered the English language some time around the 15th century.

spinach [noun] [15th century]

• an Asian herb (Spinacia oleracea) of the goosefoot family cultivated for its edible leaves which form in a dense basa...
• its leaves
• something unwanted, pretentious, or spurious
• an untidy overgrowth

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Etymology: Middle English 'spinache' from Anglo-French, alteration of Old French 'espinaces' from Medieval Latin 'spinachium' ultimately from Arabic 'isfānākh' from Persian

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The Persian roots of the word 'lascar'

'Lascar' is a word borrowed from Persian 'laškar'. The word entered the English language some time around 1615.

lascar [noun] [1615]

An Indian sailor, army servant, or artilleryman

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Etymology: Hindi & Urdu 'lashkar' army

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How the Persian language influenced English with the word 'taffeta'

'Taffeta' is a word borrowed from Persian 'tāftan'. The word entered the English language some time around the 14th century.

taffeta [noun] [14th century]

A crisp plain-woven lustrous fabric of various fibers used especially for women's clothing

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Etymology: Middle English 'taffata' from Anglo-French, from Old Italian 'taffettà' from Turkish 'tafta' from Persian 'tāftah' woven

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The Persian roots of the word 'lemon'

'Lemon' is a word borrowed from Persian 'līmun'. The word entered the English language some time around the 15th century.

lemon [noun] [15th century]

• an acid fruit that is botanically a many-seeded pale yellow oblong berry produced by a small thorny citrus tree (Citru...
• a tree that bears
• one (as an automobile) that is unsatisfactory or defective

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Etymology: Middle English 'lymon' from Middle French 'limon' from Medieval Latin 'limon-, limo' from Arabic 'laymūn, līmūn' from Persian 'līmū, līmun'

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The word 'serai' originally came from Persian as 'سرای'

'Serai' is a word borrowed from Persian 'سرای'. The word entered the English language some time around 1609.

serai [noun] [1609]

• caravansary
• seraglio

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Etymology: Turkish & Persian; Turkish 'saray' mansion, palace, from Persian 'sarāī' mansion, inn

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Is 'sandal' English, or is it actually Persian?

'Sandal' is a word borrowed from Persian 'sandal'. The word entered the English language some time around the 14th century.

sandal [noun] [14th century]

• a shoe consisting of a sole strapped to the foot
• a low-cut shoe that fastens by an ankle strap
• a strap to hold on a slipper or low shoe
• a rubber overshoe cut very low

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note: Via the Greek sandalon
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin 'sandalium' from Greek 'sandalion' diminutive of 'sandalon' sandal

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Do you speak a little Persian when you say 'kiosk'?

'Kiosk' is a word borrowed from Persian 'kūshk'. The word entered the English language some time around 1625.

kiosk [noun] [1625]

• an open summerhouse or pavilion
• a small structure with one or more open sides that is used to vend merchandise (as newspapers) or services (as film dev...
• a small stand-alone device providing information and services on a computer screen

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Etymology: Turkish 'köşk' from Persian 'kūshk' portico

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The word 'julep' originally came from Persian as 'gulāb'

'Julep' is a word borrowed from Persian 'gulāb'. The word entered the English language some time around the 14th century.

julep [noun] [14th century]

• a drink consisting of sweet syrup, flavoring, and water
• a drink consisting of a liquor (as bourbon or brandy) and sugar poured over crushed ice and garnished with mint

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Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Arabic 'julāb' from Persian 'gulāb' from 'gul' rose + 'āb' water

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Did you know that 'caravan' is actually Persian?

'Caravan' is a word borrowed from Persian 'kārwān'. The word entered the English language some time around 1588.

caravan [noun] [1588]

• a company of travelers on a journey through desert or hostile regions
• a train of pack animals
• a group of vehicles traveling together (as in a file)
• a covered wagon or motor vehicle equipped as traveling living quarters

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Etymology: Italian 'caravana' from Persian 'kārvān'

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The word 'houri' originally came from Persian as 'ḥūrī'

'Houri' is a word borrowed from Persian 'ḥūrī'. The word entered the English language some time around 1737.

houri [noun] [1737]

• one of the beautiful maidens that in Muslim belief live with the blessed in paradise
• a voluptuously beautiful young woman

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Etymology: French, from Persian 'hūri' from Arabic 'ḥūrīya'

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When you say 'pistachio' are you speaking Persian?

'Pistachio' is a word borrowed from Persian 'pistakē'. The word entered the English language some time around 1598.

pistachio [noun] [1598]

• a small Asian tree (Pistacia vera) of the cashew family whose drupaceous fruit contains a greenish edible seed
• its seed

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Etymology: Italian 'pistacchio' from Latin 'pistacium' pistachio nut, from Greek 'pistakion' from 'pistakē' pistachio tree, of Iranian origin; akin to Persian 'pistah' pistachio tree

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When you hear 'pajama' are you hearing English or Persian?

'Pajama' is a word borrowed from Persian 'pajama'. The word entered the English language some time around 1883.

pajama [noun] [1883]

Pajamas

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Etymology: Hindi & Urdu 'pājāma' from Persian 'pā' leg + 'jāma' garment

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When you hear 'bazaar' are you hearing English or Persian?

'Bazaar' is a word borrowed from Persian 'bāzār'. The word entered the English language some time around 1612.

bazaar [noun] [1612]

• a market (as in the Middle East) consisting of rows of shops or stalls selling miscellaneous goods
• a place for the sale of goods
• department store
• a fair for the sale of articles especially for charitable purposes

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Etymology: Persian 'bāzār'

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