hookah

Where does the word "hookah" come from? It comes from Arabic huqqa, passing through Urdu/Hindi before entering English (1700s).

Hookah’s story begins in Arabic: huqqa meant “a small jar or vessel.” Meaning "a small box" or "jar", describing the water vessel. By 1600s, the word had taken hold in Urdu/Hindi as hukka. Applied to the water pipe used for smoking. It reached English by 1700s as hookah. From Arabic 'huqqa', small box or jar; the pipe was fashionable among East India Company officials. Today, hookah means a water pipe used for smoking flavored tobacco.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval huqqa "a small jar or vessel", meaning "a small box" or "jar", describing the water vessel.
2. Stage 2 · Urdu/Hindi · 1600s hukka "a water pipe", applied to the water pipe used for smoking.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1700s hookah "a water pipe for smoking flavored tobacco", from Arabic 'huqqa', small box or jar; the pipe was fashionable among East India Company officials.