genet

Where does the word "genet" come from? It comes from Arabic jarnait, passing through Spanish and Old French before entering English (late 1400s).

Genet’s story begins in Arabic: jarnait meant “small civet-like animal.” Named the small civet-like carnivore of North Africa. By 1200s, the word had taken hold in Spanish as gineta. Adopted the animal's name during centuries of contact across the Strait of Gibraltar. From there it passed into Old French as genete by 1200s. Carried into French natural history vocabulary. It reached English by late 1400s as genet. Entered English describing the slender, spotted nocturnal carnivore. Today, genet means a small, slender, nocturnal carnivore related to the civet, found in Africa and parts of Europe.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval jarnait "small civet-like animal", named the small civet-like carnivore of North Africa.
2. Stage 2 · Spanish · 1200s gineta "genet", adopted the animal's name during centuries of contact across the Strait of Gibraltar.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · 1200s genete "genet", carried into French natural history vocabulary.
4. Stage 4 · English · late 1400s genet "small civet-like carnivore", entered English describing the slender, spotted nocturnal carnivore.