civet

Where does the word "civet" come from? It comes from Arabic zabad, passing through Medieval Greek, Medieval Latin, Italian and French before entering English (1530s).

Civet’s story begins in Arabic: zabad meant “civet, musky secretion.” Possibly a folk-adapted African name; related to words for foam and cream. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Medieval Greek as zapetion. Carried the word into Byzantine trade vocabulary. From there it passed into Medieval Latin as zibethum by medieval. Adapted for European scholarly and trade texts. Italian picked it up next, as zibetto, around 1400s. Shifted through Italian trading ports. By 1400s, the word had taken hold in French as civette. Reached France via the perfume trade. It reached English by 1530s as civet. Named both the cat-like animal and, by the 1550s, the musky perfume ingredient from its glands. Today, civet means a cat-like mammal of Africa and Asia, or the musky secretion from its glands once prized in perfume-making.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval zabad "civet, musky secretion", possibly a folk-adapted African name; related to words for foam and cream.
2. Stage 2 · Medieval Greek · medieval zapetion "civet", carried the word into Byzantine trade vocabulary.
3. Stage 3 · Medieval Latin · medieval zibethum "civet", adapted for European scholarly and trade texts.
4. Stage 4 · Italian · 1400s zibetto "civet cat", shifted through Italian trading ports.
5. Stage 5 · French · 1400s civette "civet", reached France via the perfume trade.
6. Stage 6 · English · 1530s civet "civet cat / perfume ingredient", named both the cat-like animal and, by the 1550s, the musky perfume ingredient from its glands.