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Bedouin

3 stages from Arabic to English.

Today it means a member of a nomadic Arab people traditionally inhabiting the deserts of the Middle East and North Africa

Where does the word "bedouin" come from? It comes from Arabic badawi, passing through Old French before entering English (c. 1400).

1
Stage 1 of 3
badawi
Arabic · medieval
"desert dweller"
from badw, "desert"; badawin was the plural, "desert dwellers"
2
Stage 2 of 3
bedüin
Old French · 1100s
"nomadic desert Arab"
adopted during the Crusades, mistaking the Arabic plural ending for part of the word
3
Stage 3 of 3
bedouin
English · c. 1400
"nomadic desert Arab"
settled into English for the nomadic tribes of the Arabian deserts
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