candy

Where does the word "candy" come from? It comes from Sanskrit khanda, passing through Persian, Arabic and Old French before entering English (c. 1300s).

Candy’s story begins in Sanskrit: khanda meant “piece of sugar.” Referred to a piece or crystal of raw sugar. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Persian as qand. Meaning cane sugar, carried along trade routes from Sanskrit. From there it passed into Arabic as qandi by medieval. Arab sugar refiners in Egypt and Persia made crystallized 'qandi'; crusaders brought the taste for it to Europe. Old French picked it up next, as sucre candi, around c. 1200s. Described a specific sugar-candy confection. It reached English by c. 1300s as candy. Broadened over time to cover sweets in general. Today, candy means a sweet confection made primarily of sugar.

1. Stage 1 · Sanskrit · ancient khanda "piece of sugar", referred to a piece or crystal of raw sugar.
2. Stage 2 · Persian · medieval qand "cane sugar", meaning cane sugar, carried along trade routes from Sanskrit.
3. Stage 3 · Arabic · medieval qandi "candied, crystallized sugar", Arab sugar refiners in Egypt and Persia made crystallized 'qandi'; crusaders brought the taste for it to Europe.
4. Stage 4 · Old French · c. 1200s sucre candi "candied sugar", described a specific sugar-candy confection.
5. Stage 5 · English · c. 1300s candy "a sweet made from sugar", broadened over time to cover sweets in general.