Etymology Map
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Babouche

4 stages from Persian to English.

Today it means a soft, heelless slipper of Middle Eastern or North African origin

Where does the word "babouche" come from? It comes from Persian paposh, passing through Arabic and French before entering English (1690s).

1
Stage 1 of 4
paposh
Persian · medieval
"foot covering, slipper"
compound of pa, "foot," and posh, "covering"
2
Stage 2 of 4
babush
Arabic · medieval
"slipper"
adapted the Persian word, since Arabic lacks the sound "p"
3
Stage 3 of 4
babouche
French · 1690s
"heelless slipper"
borrowed through French contact with North Africa
4
Stage 4 of 4
babouche
English · 1690s
"soft heelless slipper"
entered English describing the soft Middle Eastern slipper
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