champak

Where does the word "champak" come from? It comes from Sanskrit campaka, passing through Hindi before entering English (1770).

Champak’s story begins in Sanskrit: campaka meant “a fragrant flowering tree.” Named the fragrant magnolia-family tree. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Hindi as champak. The everyday name for the tree and its blossom. It reached English by 1770 as champac. British botanists and poets adopted the name. Today, champak means an Asian flowering tree of the magnolia family, prized for its fragrant yellow blossoms.

1. Stage 1 · Sanskrit · ancient campaka "a fragrant flowering tree", named the fragrant magnolia-family tree.
2. Stage 2 · Hindi · medieval champak "the champak tree and flower", the everyday name for the tree and its blossom.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1770 champac "an Asian magnolia-family tree with fragrant yellow flowers", British botanists and poets adopted the name.