borax

Where does the word "borax" come from? It comes from Arabic buraq, passing through Medieval Latin before entering English (medieval).

Borax’s story begins in Arabic: buraq meant “borax mineral.” The Arabic name for the mineral, used in metalworking. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Medieval Latin as borax. Used as a flux by metalworkers and imported from Tibet's salt lakes. It reached English by medieval as borax. Settled as the English mineral name. Today, borax means a white mineral salt used in detergents, cosmetics, and glassmaking.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval buraq "borax mineral", the Arabic name for the mineral, used in metalworking.
2. Stage 2 · Medieval Latin · medieval borax "borax mineral", used as a flux by metalworkers and imported from Tibet's salt lakes.
3. Stage 3 · English · medieval borax "a white mineral used in cleaning and glassmaking", settled as the English mineral name.