cumin

Where does the word "cumin" come from? It comes from Greek kyminon, passing through Latin and Old English before entering English (medieval).

Cumin’s story begins in Greek: kyminon meant “the cumin seed.” Cognate with Semitic terms such as Hebrew kammon and Arabic kammun, but the actual source of the Latin and English words. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as cuminum. One of the most common spices in the Roman kitchen, used in Apicius's recipes. From there it passed into Old English as cymen by old english. From Latin cuminum. It reached English by medieval as cumin. Settled as the English word for the pungent spice seed. Today, cumin means the dried seed of a plant used as a pungent spice.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient kyminon "the cumin seed", cognate with Semitic terms such as Hebrew kammon and Arabic kammun, but the actual source of the Latin and English words.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient cuminum "the cumin seed", one of the most common spices in the Roman kitchen, used in Apicius's recipes.
3. Stage 3 · Old English · old english cymen "the cumin seed", from Latin cuminum.
4. Stage 4 · English · medieval cumin "an aromatic spice seed", settled as the English word for the pungent spice seed.