Latin 'stola' in the English language

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

stole [noun] [before 12th century]

• a long loose garment
• robe
• an ecclesiastical vestment consisting of a long usually silk band worn traditionally around the neck by bishops and pri...
• a long wide scarf or similar covering worn by women usually across the shoulders

Meaning: a long loose garment : robe; an ecclesiastical vestment consisting of a long usually silk band worn traditionally around the neck by bishops and priests and over the left shoulder by deacons; a long wide scarf or similar covering worn by women usually across the shoulders.

Etymology: Middle English; from Old English; from Latin stola; from Greek stole equipment; robe; from stellein to set up; make ready.

Topics: Clothing:Garments.

Origin: From Latin to Greek to English.

note: The word stole (a garment) comes from the Latin stola from the Greek stolē meaning garment or equipment. This Greek word derives from stellein meaning to place or to array. The word entered English from Old English stole and has evolved to refer to a long garment a priestly vestment or a long band of fur or feathers worn over the shoulders.

See 'stole' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Latin.

See more loan words from before 1200.

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: Slang for a police officer derived from the 18th-century verb cop meaning to seize or catch (from the Latin capere).

Etymology: Middle English; from Old English copp.

Topics: Law:Government.

Origin: From Latin to English.

note: An officer who caught criminals was originally called a copper—a term later shortened to cop.

See 'cop' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Latin.

See more loan words from before 1200.

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.

See 'thrall' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Scandinavian.

See more loan words from before 1200.

Do you speak a little Dutch when you say 'shank'?

'Shank' is a word borrowed from Dutch 'schenk'. The word entered the English language some time before the 12th century.

shank [noun] [before 12th century]

• the part of the leg between the knee and the ankle in humans or the corresponding part in various other vertebrates
• leg
• a cut of beef, veal, mutton, or lamb from the upper or the lower part of the leg
• shin
• a straight narrow usually essential part of an object
• as

Meaning: the part of the leg between the knee and the ankle in humans or the corresponding part in various other vertebrates; leg; a cut of beef; veal; mutton; or lamb from the upper or the lower part of the leg : shin see beef illustration.

Etymology: Middle English shanke; from Old English scanca; akin to Old Norse skakkr crooked; Greek skazein to limp.

Topics: Medicine:Anatomy, Food:Meat.

Origin: From Dutch to English.

note: Old English sceanca of West Germanic origin. Related to Dutch schenk ‘leg bone’ and German Schenkel ‘thigh’. The use of the verb as a golfing term dates from the 1920s. Related: in the sense of a knife there is Gaelic sceanca (knives).

See 'shank' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Dutch.

See more loan words from before 1200.

The Greek origins of the word 'pelican'

'Pelican' is a word borrowed from Greek 'pelekan'. The word entered the English language some time before the 12th century.

pelican [noun] [before 12th century]

Any of a genus (Pelecanus) of large web-footed fish-eating birds with a very large bill and distensible gular pouch
Meaning: any of a genus ( Pelecanus ) of large web-footed fish-eating birds with a very large bill and distensible gular pouch.

Etymology: Middle English; from Old English pellican; from Late Latin pelecanus; from Greek pelekan.

Topics: Animals:Birds.

Origin: From Greek to English.

note: From Greek pelekan probably based on pelekus ‘axe’ (with reference to its bill).

See 'pelican' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Greek.

See more loan words from before 1200.

When you say 'amen' are you speaking Hebrew?

'Amen' is a word borrowed from Hebrew 'amen'. The word entered the English language some time before the 12th century.

amen [interjection] [before 12th century]

Used to express solemn ratification (as of an expression of faith) or hearty approval (as of an assertion)
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English, from Late Latin, from Greek 'amēn' from Hebrew 'āmēn'.

Topics: Linguistics, Religion:Faith.

Origin: From Hebrew to English.

note: Linguistic Path: Hebrew (אָמֵן / āmēn) → Ancient Greek (ἀμήν) → Late Latin (amen) → Old English.Meaning & History: The word derives from the Semitic root a-m-n which means to be trustworthy - confirm support or believe. When used as an exclamation at the end of prayers or blessings it functions adverbially to mean so be it truly or certainly.

See 'amen' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Hebrew.

See more loan words from before 1200.

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

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

lily [noun] [before 12th century]

• any of a genus ( of the family Liliaceae, the lily family) of erect perennial leafy-stemmed bulbous herbs that are nati...
• any of various plants of the lily family or of the related amaryllis or iris families
• any of various plants with showy flowers
• as
• a scarlet anemone (Anemone coronaria) of the Mediterranean region

See 'lily' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Latin.

Etymology: Middle English 'lilie' from Old English, from Latin 'lilium'

See more loan words from before 1200.

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

See more loan words from Latin.

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

See more loan words from before 1200.

When you hear 'eden' are you hearing English or Sumerian?

'Eden' is a word borrowed from Sumerian 'eden'. The word entered the English language some time before the 12th century.

eden [noun] [before 12th century]

• paradise
• the garden where according to the account in Genesis Adam and Eve first lived
• a place of pristine or abundant natural beauty

See 'eden' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Sumerian.

note: The Hebrew word is likely borrowed from the Akkadian edinnu which in turn comes from the Sumerian eden meaning plain or steppe.
Etymology: Late Latin, from Hebrew 'ʽĒdhen'

See more loan words from before 1200.

When you say 'gum' are you speaking Egyptian?

'Gum' is a word borrowed from Egyptian 'kemai'. The word entered the English language some time before the 12th century.

gum [noun] [before 12th century]

• the tissue that surrounds the necks of teeth and covers the alveolar parts of the jaws
• the alveolar portion of a jaw with its enveloping soft tissues

See 'gum' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Egyptian.

note: Middle English: from Old French gomme based on Latin gummi from Greek kommi from Egyptian kemai.
Etymology: Middle English 'gome' from Old English 'gōma' palate; akin to Old High German 'guomo' palate, and perhaps to Greek 'chaos' abyss

See more loan words from before 1200.

Is 'ferry' English, or is it actually Scandinavian?

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

ferry [verb] [before 12th century]

• to carry by boat over a body of water
• to cross by a ferry
• to convey (as by aircraft or motor vehicle) from one place to another
• transport
• to fly (an airplane) from the factory or other shipping point to a designated delivery point or from one base to anothe...

See 'ferry' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Scandinavian.

Etymology: Middle English 'ferien' from Old English 'ferian' to carry, convey; akin to Old English 'faran' to go

See more loan words from before 1200.

Scandinavian 'jól' in the English language

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

yule [noun] [before 12th century]

The feast of the nativity of Jesus Christ - christmas

See 'yule' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Scandinavian.

Etymology: Middle English 'yol' from Old English 'geōl;' akin to Old Norse 'jōl' a pagan midwinter festival

See more loan words from before 1200.

The Scandinavian origins of the word 'glad'

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

glad [adjective] [before 12th century]

• having a cheerful or happy disposition by nature
• experiencing pleasure, joy, or delight
• made happy
• made pleased, satisfied, or grateful
• often used with 'of'
• very willing

See 'glad' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Scandinavian.

note: Related to Old Norse glathr ‘bright joyous’
Etymology: Middle English, shining, glad, from Old English 'glæd;' akin to Old High German 'glat' shining, smooth, Latin 'glaber' smooth, bald

See more loan words from before 1200.

Is 'morn' English, or is it actually German?

'Morn' is a word borrowed from German 'morgen'. The word entered the English language some time before the 12th century.

morn [noun] [before 12th century]

• dawn
• morning

See 'morn' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from German.

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English 'morgen;' akin to Old High German 'morgan' morning and perhaps to Greek 'marmairein' to sparkle

See more loan words from before 1200.

The Sanskrit origins of the word 'name'

'Name' is a word borrowed from Sanskrit 'nā́man'. The word entered the English language some time before the 12th century.

name [noun] [before 12th century]

• a word or phrase that constitutes the distinctive designation of a person or thing
• a word or symbol used in logic to designate an entity
• a descriptive often disparaging epithet
• reputation

See 'name' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Sanskrit.

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English 'nama;' akin to Old High German 'namo' name, Latin 'nomen' Greek 'onoma, onyma'

See more loan words from before 1200.

When you hear 'thing' are you hearing English or Scandinavian?

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

thing [noun] [before 12th century]

• a matter of concern
• affair
• state of affairs in general or within a specified or implied sphere
• a particular state of affairs
• situation
• event

See 'thing' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Scandinavian.

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English, thing, assembly; akin to Old High German 'ding' thing, assembly, Gothic 'theihs' time

See more loan words from before 1200.