burqa

Where does the word "burqa" come from? It comes from Arabic burqu', passing through Persian/Urdu before entering English (1800s).

Burqa’s story begins in Arabic: burqu' meant “full veil.” Named a veil covering the face and body. By 1700s, the word had taken hold in Persian/Urdu as burqa. Worn especially among Pashtun women in Afghanistan and northern India. It reached English by 1800s as burqa. First recorded in 1815 in Mountstuart Elphinstone's 'Account of the Kingdom of Caubul', written after a British embassy to Afghanistan. Today, burqa means a loose garment covering the entire body and face, worn by some Muslim women.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval burqu' "full veil", named a veil covering the face and body.
2. Stage 2 · Persian/Urdu · 1700s burqa "full-body veil", worn especially among Pashtun women in Afghanistan and northern India.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1800s burqa "full-body covering garment", first recorded in 1815 in Mountstuart Elphinstone's 'Account of the Kingdom of Caubul', written after a British embassy to Afghanistan.