hegira

Where does the word "hegira" come from? It comes from Arabic hajara / hijrah, passing through Medieval Latin before entering English (1580s).

Hegira’s story begins in Arabic: hajara / hijrah meant “departure, flight.” Meant "to depart"; named Muhammad's flight from Mecca to Medina, the event that starts the Islamic calendar. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in Medieval Latin as hegira. The Islamic calendar counts from the Prophet's migration to Medina in 622. It reached English by 1580s as hegira. Entered English historical and religious writing. Today, hegira means a journey or flight to escape danger, especially with reference to Muhammad's flight from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · 622 CE hajara / hijrah "departure, flight", meant "to depart"; named Muhammad's flight from Mecca to Medina, the event that starts the Islamic calendar.
2. Stage 2 · Medieval Latin · 1500s hegira "the Islamic era's starting flight", the Islamic calendar counts from the Prophet's migration to Medina in 622.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1580s hegira "flight or journey to escape danger", entered English historical and religious writing.