caracal

Where does the word "caracal" come from? It comes from Persian siyāh-gōsh, passing through Ottoman Turkish and French before entering English (1760s).

Caracal’s story begins in Persian: siyāh-gōsh meant “caracal.” Literally 'black ear'; the Turkish name is a translation of it. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Ottoman Turkish as karakulak. 'kara', black, plus 'kulak', ear, for the cat's black ear tufts. From there it passed into French as caracal by 1761. The naturalist Buffon shortened the Turkish name in his 'Histoire naturelle' in 1761. It reached English by 1760s as caracal. Borrowed from Buffon's widely translated natural history. Today, caracal means a lynx-like wild cat with long black-tufted ears.

1. Stage 1 · Persian · medieval siyāh-gōsh "caracal", literally 'black ear'; the Turkish name is a translation of it.
2. Stage 2 · Ottoman Turkish · medieval karakulak "caracal", 'kara', black, plus 'kulak', ear, for the cat's black ear tufts.
3. Stage 3 · French · 1761 caracal "caracal", the naturalist Buffon shortened the Turkish name in his 'Histoire naturelle' in 1761.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1760s caracal "caracal", borrowed from Buffon's widely translated natural history.