fustian

Where does the word "fustian" come from? It comes from Arabic al-Fustat, passing through Old French before entering English (medieval).

Fustian’s story begins in Arabic: al-Fustat meant “the city of Fustat, near Cairo.” The old capital city near Cairo where a coarse cloth was made. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as fustaigne. Named the sturdy cotton-and-linen fabric after the city. It reached English by medieval as fustian. Settled as the English name for the sturdy fabric. Today, fustian means a thick, sturdy cotton fabric, or (figuratively) pompous language.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval al-Fustat "the city of Fustat, near Cairo", the old capital city near Cairo where a coarse cloth was made.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval fustaigne "a coarse cotton and linen cloth", named the sturdy cotton-and-linen fabric after the city.
3. Stage 3 · English · medieval fustian "a thick, twilled cotton fabric", settled as the English name for the sturdy fabric.