jar

Where does the word "jar" come from? It comes from Arabic jarra, passing through Spanish before entering English (1500s-1600s).

Jar’s story begins in Arabic: jarra meant “an earthenware vessel.” The Arabic name for an earthenware vessel. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Spanish as jarra. Arabic 'jarra', earthen water vessel. It reached English by 1500s-1600s as jar. Adopted via French and Spanish trade in pottery. Today, jar means a cylindrical container, usually made of glass or ceramic.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval jarra "an earthenware vessel", the Arabic name for an earthenware vessel.
2. Stage 2 · Spanish · medieval jarra "a large earthenware pot", Arabic 'jarra', earthen water vessel.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s-1600s jar "a cylindrical container", adopted via French and Spanish trade in pottery.