cayenne

Where does the word "cayenne" come from? It comes from Tupi kyinha, passing through French before entering English (1756).

Cayenne’s story begins in Tupi: kyinha meant “a hot chili pepper.” Named a variety of hot chili pepper. By 1750s, the word had taken hold in French as Cayenne. The pepper's name was folk-associated with the French Guianese port city of Cayenne. It reached English by 1756 as cayenne. Borrowed into English as the pepper became a common spice in Atlantic trade. Today, cayenne means a hot, ground spice made from dried red chili peppers.

1. Stage 1 · Tupi · pre-1500s kyinha "a hot chili pepper", named a variety of hot chili pepper.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1750s Cayenne "a hot ground chili pepper, named after the city", the pepper's name was folk-associated with the French Guianese port city of Cayenne.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1756 cayenne "a hot, ground red chili pepper", borrowed into English as the pepper became a common spice in Atlantic trade.