bhang

Where does the word "bhang" come from? It comes from Sanskrit bhangah, passing through Hindi and Portuguese before entering English (17th c.).

Bhang’s story begins in Sanskrit: bhangah meant “hemp, cannabis.” Named hemp or cannabis. By 16th c., the word had taken hold in Hindi as bhang. The everyday North Indian word for a cannabis preparation. From there it passed into Portuguese as bangue by 1560s. Portuguese travelers in India recorded the word for Europe. It reached English by 17th c. as bhang. Settled as the English name for the Indian cannabis preparation. Today, bhang means an edible or drinkable preparation of cannabis leaves, traditionally consumed in South Asia.

1. Stage 1 · Sanskrit · ancient bhangah "hemp, cannabis", named hemp or cannabis.
2. Stage 2 · Hindi · 16th c. bhang "an edible or drinkable cannabis preparation", the everyday North Indian word for a cannabis preparation.
3. Stage 3 · Portuguese · 1560s bangue "the Indian cannabis drink", Portuguese travelers in India recorded the word for Europe.
4. Stage 4 · English · 17th c. bhang "a preparation of cannabis leaves, consumed in South Asia", settled as the English name for the Indian cannabis preparation.