bandana

Where does the word "bandana" come from? It comes from Sanskrit bandhnu, passing through Hindi before entering English (1700s).

Bandana’s story begins in Sanskrit: bandhnu meant “a tying, tie-dye technique.” A tie-dyeing technique, from "bandh" (to tie). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Hindi as bandhna. The tie-dyed cloth itself. It reached English by 1700s as bandana. From Hindi 'bāndhnū', tie-dyeing: the cloth was knotted before dyeing to make its spots; the East India Company exported the spotted handkerchiefs from Bengal. Today, bandana means a large, often colorfully patterned handkerchief worn on the head or around the neck.

1. Stage 1 · Sanskrit · ancient bandhnu "a tying, tie-dye technique", a tie-dyeing technique, from "bandh" (to tie).
2. Stage 2 · Hindi · medieval bandhna "tie-dyed cloth", the tie-dyed cloth itself.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1700s bandana "a patterned cloth worn around the head or neck", from Hindi 'bāndhnū', tie-dyeing: the cloth was knotted before dyeing to make its spots; the East India Company exported the spotted handkerchiefs from Bengal.