alfalfa

Where does the word "alfalfa" come from? It comes from Arabic al-fisfisa, passing through Spanish before entering English (1800s).

Alfalfa’s story begins in Arabic: al-fisfisa meant “the best fodder.” Literally the best kind of fodder, a nutritious plant grown for livestock. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Spanish as alfalfa. Moorish farmers brought the fodder plant to Spain; English speakers met the word in the Spanish-speaking American West. It reached English by 1800s as alfalfa. Carried into American English via Spanish-speaking ranchers. Today, alfalfa means a legume plant widely grown as fodder for livestock.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval al-fisfisa "the best fodder", literally the best kind of fodder, a nutritious plant grown for livestock.
2. Stage 2 · Spanish · medieval alfalfa "a nutritious fodder plant", Moorish farmers brought the fodder plant to Spain; English speakers met the word in the Spanish-speaking American West.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1800s alfalfa "a nutritious plant grown as livestock fodder", carried into American English via Spanish-speaking ranchers.