achiote

Where does the word "achiote" come from? It comes from Nahuatl achiotl, passing through Spanish before entering English (1790s).

Achiote’s story begins in Nahuatl: achiotl meant “the seed of the annatto shrub.” Named the reddish seeds of the annatto shrub used as dye and seasoning. By 1600s, the word had taken hold in Spanish as achiote. The Aztecs used the seeds to colour food and body paint, and Spanish kept the Nahuatl name. It reached English by 1790s as achiote. The English ex-Dominican friar Thomas Gage described it as early as 1648 in 'The English-American', his account of years spent in New Spain. Today, achiote means a red-orange seasoning and natural dye made from the seeds of the annatto shrub.

1. Stage 1 · Nahuatl · pre-1500s achiotl "the seed of the annatto shrub", named the reddish seeds of the annatto shrub used as dye and seasoning.
2. Stage 2 · Spanish · 1600s achiote "a red seasoning and dye made from annatto seeds", the Aztecs used the seeds to colour food and body paint, and Spanish kept the Nahuatl name.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1790s achiote "a red-orange seasoning and coloring made from annatto seeds", the English ex-Dominican friar Thomas Gage described it as early as 1648 in 'The English-American', his account of years spent in New Spain.