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Annatto

3 stages from Cariban to English.

Today it means a natural orange-red dye and seasoning derived from the seeds of the annatto shrub, used in cheeses and traditional cooking

Where does the word "annatto" come from? It comes from Cariban onoto, passing through Spanish before entering English (1670s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
onoto
Cariban · pre-1500s
"a red dye-producing seed"
named the red dye extracted from the seeds of a tropical shrub
2
Stage 2 of 3
annatto
Spanish · 1600s
"a red dye made from tropical shrub seeds"
adopted by Spanish colonists across the Caribbean and South America
3
Stage 3 of 3
annatto
English · 1670s
"a natural orange-red food coloring and seasoning"
borrowed into English through colonial trade accounts
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