camphor

Where does the word "camphor" come from? It comes from Sanskrit karpura, passing through Arabic and Medieval Latin before entering English (medieval).

Camphor’s story begins in Sanskrit: karpura meant “camphor resin.” The name for the aromatic resin from a tree. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Arabic as kafur. Carried along trade routes from South and Southeast Asia. From there it passed into Medieval Latin as camphora by medieval. Arab physicians such as Avicenna prescribed camphor, traded from Sumatra and Borneo. It reached English by medieval as camphor. Settled as the English name for the aromatic compound. Today, camphor means a strong-smelling white compound derived from a tree, used in medicine and mothballs.

1. Stage 1 · Sanskrit · ancient karpura "camphor resin", the name for the aromatic resin from a tree.
2. Stage 2 · Arabic · medieval kafur "camphor", carried along trade routes from South and Southeast Asia.
3. Stage 3 · Medieval Latin · medieval camphora "camphor", Arab physicians such as Avicenna prescribed camphor, traded from Sumatra and Borneo.
4. Stage 4 · English · medieval camphor "a pungent, waxy aromatic compound", settled as the English name for the aromatic compound.