indigo

Where does the word "indigo" come from? It comes from Greek indikon, passing through Latin and Spanish/Portuguese before entering English (1500s-1600s).

Indigo’s story begins in Greek: indikon meant “the Indian dye.” Literally "the Indian [dye]", from the source of the blue dye. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as indicum. Latin 'Indian dye', since it was imported from India. From there it passed into Spanish/Portuguese as indigo by medieval. Spread through Iberian trade networks. It reached English by 1500s-1600s as indigo. Settled as the English name for the blue dye and color. Today, indigo means a deep blue dye, or the color between blue and violet.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient indikon "the Indian dye", literally "the Indian [dye]", from the source of the blue dye.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient indicum "indigo dye", Latin 'Indian dye', since it was imported from India.
3. Stage 3 · Spanish/Portuguese · medieval indigo "indigo dye", spread through Iberian trade networks.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1500s-1600s indigo "a deep blue dye or color", settled as the English name for the blue dye and color.