azure

Where does the word "azure" come from? It comes from Persian lazhward, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Azure’s story begins in Persian: lazhward meant “the place name Lajward, source of lapis lazuli.” The name of a region famous for its deep-blue lapis lazuli stone. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as azur. From Arabic 'lāzaward', which lost its initial 'l' when it was mistaken for the article; the lapis stone itself came from mines in Badakhshan, Afghanistan. It reached English by 1300s as azure. Settled as the English word for a bright blue color. Today, azure means a bright, clear blue color, like a cloudless sky.

1. Stage 1 · Persian · medieval lazhward "the place name Lajward, source of lapis lazuli", the name of a region famous for its deep-blue lapis lazuli stone.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval azur "a deep blue color", from Arabic 'lāzaward', which lost its initial 'l' when it was mistaken for the article; the lapis stone itself came from mines in Badakhshan, Afghanistan.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s azure "a bright blue color", settled as the English word for a bright blue color.