hijab

Where does the word "hijab" come from? It comes from Arabic hajaba, passing through Arabic before entering English (1906).

Hijab’s story begins in Arabic: hajaba meant “to screen, conceal.” Root meaning "to veil, to screen, to hide". Within Arabic, it grew into hijab by medieval. Named a partition, screen, or curtain, later the rules and practice of modest dress. It reached English by 1906 as hijab. Narrowed in English usage to the head covering worn by some Muslim women. Today, hijab means a head covering worn in public by some Muslim women, or the modest style of dress more generally.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval hajaba "to screen, conceal", root meaning "to veil, to screen, to hide".
2. Stage 2 · Arabic · medieval hijab "partition, veil, modesty", named a partition, screen, or curtain, later the rules and practice of modest dress.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1906 hijab "head covering, modest dress", narrowed in English usage to the head covering worn by some Muslim women.