Vol. 09 · Loanwords ·Arabic ·1300s
Syrup
from sharāb
- Meaning
- A thick, sweet liquid.
- Source word
- sharāb
- Route into English
- Arabic *sharāb* (drink) → Medieval Latin *siropus* → Old French *sirop* → English. Cousin to sherbet and sorbet — all descend from the Arabic root *sh-r-b* (to drink).
- Arrived
- 1300s
From Arabic
Science, trade, and the Mediterranean transit of Andalusian scholarship gave English its Arabic stratum — especially in maths, chemistry, and commerce. Many entered through Latin or Italian.
English borrows.
Browse the full loanword atlas or explore another source language.