henna

Where does the word "henna" come from? It comes from Arabic hinna, and was adopted directly into English (1600s).

Henna’s story begins in Arabic: hinna meant “henna plant, dye.” The Arabic name for the flowering plant and its dye. It reached English by 1600s as henna. Applied in intricate patterns for weddings and Eid across South Asia, North Africa and the Middle East. Today, henna means a reddish-brown dye made from a flowering plant, used to color hair and skin.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval hinna "henna plant, dye", the Arabic name for the flowering plant and its dye.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1600s henna "a reddish-brown dye from the henna plant", applied in intricate patterns for weddings and Eid across South Asia, North Africa and the Middle East.