alkali

Where does the word "alkali" come from? It comes from Arabic al-qaliy, and was adopted directly into English (1500s).

Alkali’s story begins in Arabic: al-qaliy meant “calcined ashes.” Literally the ashes, from the plant ashes used to make soap and glass. It reached English by 1500s as alkali. Settled as the chemical term for substances that neutralize acids. Today, alkali means a chemical substance that neutralizes acids and has a bitter taste.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval al-qaliy "calcined ashes", literally the ashes, from the plant ashes used to make soap and glass.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1500s alkali "a substance that neutralizes acids", settled as the chemical term for substances that neutralize acids.