Loan Words in the English Language

Tuesday, 8 August 2023

Did you know that 'wadi' is actually Arabic?

'Wadi' is a word borrowed from Arabic 'wādī'. The word entered the English language some time around 1828.

wadi [noun] [1828]

the bed or valley of a stream in regions of southwestern Asia and northern Africa that is usually dry except during the...
a shallow usually sharply defined depression in a desert region

See 'wadi' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Arabic.

Etymology: Arabic 'wādi'

See more loan words from 1800s.

The word 'shako' is originally from Hungarian 'csákó'

'Shako' is a word borrowed from Hungarian 'csákó'. The word entered the English language some time around 1793.

shako [noun] [1793]

A stiff military hat with a high crown and plume

See 'shako' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Hungarian.

Etymology: French, from Hungarian 'csákó'

See more loan words from 1700s.

The Yiddish origins of the word 'shtick'

'Shtick' is a word borrowed from Yiddish 'Stück'. The word entered the English language some time around 1959.

shtick [noun] [1959]

a usually comic or repetitious performance or routine
bit
one's special trait, interest, or activity
bag

See 'shtick' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Yiddish.

Etymology: Yiddish 'shtik' pranks, literally, piece, from Middle High German 'stücke' from Old High German 'stucki;' akin to Old English 'stycce' piece, Old High German 'stoc' stick

See more loan words from 1950s.

The word 'shibboleth' is a loan word from Yiddish 'shibbōleth'

'Shibboleth' is a word borrowed from Yiddish 'shibbōleth'. The word entered the English language some time around 1638.

shibboleth [noun] [1638]

a word or saying used by adherents of a party, sect, or belief and usually regarded by others as empty of real meaning
a widely held belief
truism
a use of language regarded as distinctive of a particular group

See 'shibboleth' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Yiddish.

Etymology: Hebrew 'shibbōleth' stream; from the use of this word in Judg 12:6 as a test to distinguish Gileadites from Ephraimites

See more loan words from 1600s.

Did you know that 'slogan' is actually Gaelic?

'Slogan' is a word borrowed from Gaelic 'sluagh-ghairm'. The word entered the English language some time around 1513.

slogan [noun] [1513]

a war cry especially of a Scottish clan
a word or phrase used to express a characteristic position or stand or a goal to be achieved
a brief attention-getting phrase used in advertising or promotion

See 'slogan' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Gaelic.

Etymology: Alteration of earlier 'slogorn' from Scottish Gaelic 'sluagh-ghairm' from 'sluagh' army, host + 'gairm' cry

See more loan words from 1500s.

The word 'shabrack' is originally from Turkish 'çaprak'

'Shabrack' is a word borrowed from Turkish 'çaprak'.

shabrack

(details not available)

See 'shabrack' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Turkish.

note: A cavalry saddlecloth used in European armies. Early 19th century from German Schabracke of east European origin; compare with Russian shabrak.
Etymology: -

See more loan words from (unknown date).

Did you know that 'hoyden' is actually Dutch?

'Hoyden' is a word borrowed from Dutch 'heiden'. The word entered the English language some time around 1676.

hoyden [noun] [1676]

A girl or woman of saucy, boisterous, or carefree behavior

See 'hoyden' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Dutch.

Etymology: Perhaps from obsolete Dutch 'heiden' country lout, from Middle Dutch, heathen; akin to Old English 'hǣthen' heathen

See more loan words from 1600s.

When you hear 'converso' are you hearing English or Spanish?

'Converso' is a word borrowed from Spanish 'converso'. The word entered the English language some time around 1889.

converso [noun] [1889]

A Jew who publicly recanted the Jewish faith and adopted Christianity under the pressure of the Spanish Inquisition

See 'converso' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Spanish.

Etymology: Spanish, literally, convert

See more loan words from 1800s.

The Yiddish roots of the word 'yeshiva'

'Yeshiva' is a word borrowed from Yiddish 'yeshiva'. The word entered the English language some time around 1760.

yeshiva [noun] [1760]

a school for talmudic study
an Orthodox Jewish rabbinical seminary
a Jewish day school providing secular and religious instruction

See 'yeshiva' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Yiddish.

Etymology: Late Hebrew 'yĕshībhāh'

See more loan words from 1700s.

When you say 'nacre' are you speaking Arabic?

'Nacre' is a word borrowed from Arabic 'naqqāra'. The word entered the English language some time around 1718.

nacre [noun] [1718]

Mother-of-pearl

See 'nacre' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Arabic.

Etymology: French, from Middle French, from Old Italian 'naccara' drum, nacre, from Arabic 'naqqāra' drum

See more loan words from 1700s.

When you say 'asperity' are you speaking French?

'Asperity' is a word borrowed from French 'asperite'. The word entered the English language some time around the 13th century.

asperity [noun] [13th century]

rigor
roughness of surface
unevenness
a tiny projection from a surface
roughness of sound

See 'asperity' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from French.

Etymology: Middle English 'asprete' from Anglo-French 'aspreté' from 'aspre' rough, from Latin 'asper' from Old Latin '*absperos' from 'ab-' ab- + '-speros;' akin to Sanskrit 'apasphura' repelling, Latin 'spernere' to spurn

See more loan words from 1200s.