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Copal

3 stages from Nahuatl to English.

Today it means a hard, pale resin from tropical trees used in varnishes and incense

Where does the word "copal" come from? It comes from Nahuatl copalli, passing through Spanish before entering English (1570s-1600s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
copalli
Nahuatl · pre-1500s
"resin, incense"
named for the aromatic tree resin burned as incense
2
Stage 2 of 3
copal
Spanish · 1570s
"tree resin used as incense/varnish base"
adopted by Spanish colonists for the same New World resin
3
Stage 3 of 3
copal
English · 1570s-1600s
"a hard aromatic resin used in varnish"
borrowed directly from Spanish for varnish-making
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