damask

Where does the word "damask" come from? It comes from Arabic Dimashq, passing through Old French before entering English (medieval).

Damask’s story begins in Arabic: Dimashq meant “the city of Damascus.” The Arabic name for the city of Damascus. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as damas. Named a richly patterned woven fabric after the city. It reached English by medieval as damask. First recorded before 1325 in the Middle English 'Genesis and Exodus' poem; named for Damascus, famed for its patterned silks. Today, damask means a rich, reversible fabric woven with an elaborate pattern.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval Dimashq "the city of Damascus", the Arabic name for the city of Damascus.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval damas "a patterned woven fabric", named a richly patterned woven fabric after the city.
3. Stage 3 · English · medieval damask "a reversible, patterned woven fabric", first recorded before 1325 in the Middle English 'Genesis and Exodus' poem; named for Damascus, famed for its patterned silks.