Etymology Map
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Chaparral

3 stages from Basque to English.

Today it means dense thorny shrubland, especially in California

Where does the word "chaparral" come from? It comes from Basque txapar, passing through Spanish before entering English (1850s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
txapar
Basque · medieval
"thicket"
a thicket
2
Stage 2 of 3
chaparro
Spanish · medieval
"scrub oak"
a dwarf evergreen oak
3
Stage 3 of 3
chaparral
American English · 1850s
"shrubland"
used for California's scrub-covered hills
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Read the full story

Chaparral’s story begins in Basque: txapar meant “thicket.” A thicket. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Spanish as chaparro. A dwarf evergreen oak. It reached English by 1850s as chaparral. Used for California's scrub-covered hills. Today, chaparral means dense thorny shrubland, especially in California.