carob

Where does the word "carob" come from? It comes from Arabic kharrub, passing through Middle French before entering English (1540s).

Carob’s story begins in Arabic: kharrub meant “locust bean pod.” Named the sweet, edible pod of a Mediterranean evergreen tree. By 1400s, the word had taken hold in Middle French as carobe. Adopted the pod and its Arabic name through Mediterranean trade. It reached English by 1540s as carob. Entered English as the common name for the tree and its pod. Today, carob means the edible pod of a Mediterranean evergreen tree, often used as a chocolate substitute.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval kharrub "locust bean pod", named the sweet, edible pod of a Mediterranean evergreen tree.
2. Stage 2 · Middle French · 1400s carobe "carob pod", adopted the pod and its Arabic name through Mediterranean trade.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1540s carob "edible pod, chocolate substitute", entered English as the common name for the tree and its pod.