Etymology Map
Back to all words

Dolmus

2 stages from Turkish to English.

Today it means a shared minibus or taxi in Turkey that leaves when it is full

Where does the word "dolmus" come from? It comes from Turkish dolmuş, adopted directly into English (1960s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
dolmuş
Turkish · 1930s
"filled"
'filled', because it sets off only when every seat is taken
2
Stage 2 of 2
dolmus
English · 1960s
"Turkish shared taxi"
introduced to English readers by travel guides to Turkey
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Read the full story

Dolmus’s story begins in Turkish: dolmuş meant “filled.” 'filled', because it sets off only when every seat is taken. It reached English by 1960s as dolmus. Introduced to English readers by travel guides to Turkey. Today, dolmus means a shared minibus or taxi in Turkey that leaves when it is full.