couscous

Where does the word "couscous" come from? It comes from Berber kuskus, passing through French before entering English (1600s).

Couscous’s story begins in Berber: kuskus meant “steamed crushed wheat grains.” The name for small steamed grains of crushed durum wheat. By 1600s, the word had taken hold in French as couscous. From Berber 'seksu'; French colonial rule in Algeria popularized it in France. It reached English by 1600s as couscous. First recorded in English around 1593; the Arabic form is often linked to 'kaskasa', to pound. Today, couscous means a North African dish made from small steamed grains of crushed durum wheat.

1. Stage 1 · Berber · medieval kuskus "steamed crushed wheat grains", the name for small steamed grains of crushed durum wheat.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1600s couscous "a North African dish of steamed wheat grains", from Berber 'seksu'; French colonial rule in Algeria popularized it in France.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1600s couscous "a North African dish of steamed semolina grains", first recorded in English around 1593; the Arabic form is often linked to 'kaskasa', to pound.