Etymology Map
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Baglama

3 stages from Turkish to English.

Today it means the most common Turkish long-necked lute, a type of saz

Where does the word "baglama" come from? It comes from Turkish bağlama, passing through German before entering English (1900s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
bağlama
Turkish · 1600s-1700s
"tied (lute)"
from 'bağlamak', to tie, for the gut frets tied around its neck
2
Stage 2 of 3
bağlama
German · 1970s
"Turkish lute"
Turkish workers in Germany made it a familiar instrument in German cities
3
Stage 3 of 3
baglama
English · 1900s
"Turkish lute"
used in English for the Turkish lute and the small Greek bouzouki of the same name
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Read the full story

Baglama’s story begins in Turkish: bağlama meant “tied (lute).” From 'bağlamak', to tie, for the gut frets tied around its neck. By 1970s, the word had taken hold in German as bağlama. Turkish workers in Germany made it a familiar instrument in German cities. It reached English by 1900s as baglama. Used in English for the Turkish lute and the small Greek bouzouki of the same name. Today, baglama means the most common Turkish long-necked lute, a type of saz.