guaiacum

Where does the word "guaiacum" come from? It comes from Taino guayacán, passing through Spanish before entering English (1530s).

Guaiacum’s story begins in Taino: guayacán meant “a hard, resinous tree.” Named the hard, resinous tree known for its medicinal properties. By 1520s, the word had taken hold in Spanish as guayaco. Guaiacum was exported to Europe in the 1500s as a supposed cure for syphilis. It reached English by 1530s as guaiacum. Latinized and borrowed into English, among the very first words of American indigenous origin recorded in English. Today, guaiacum means a very hard, resinous tropical tree, also known as lignum vitae, historically valued for its medicinal resin.

1. Stage 1 · Taino · pre-1500s guayacán "a hard, resinous tree", named the hard, resinous tree known for its medicinal properties.
2. Stage 2 · Spanish · 1520s guayaco "a medicinal tree resin", guaiacum was exported to Europe in the 1500s as a supposed cure for syphilis.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1530s guaiacum "a resinous tropical hardwood tree, also called lignum vitae", latinized and borrowed into English, among the very first words of American indigenous origin recorded in English.