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Jerboa

3 stages from Arabic to English.

Today it means a small jumping desert rodent with long hind legs, native to North Africa and Asia

Where does the word "jerboa" come from? It comes from Arabic jarbu, passing through Modern Latin before entering English (1660s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
jarbu
Arabic · medieval
"jumping desert rodent"
literally "flesh of the loins," naming the rodent for its powerful hind legs
2
Stage 2 of 3
jerboa
Modern Latin · 1600s
"desert rodent genus"
adopted into European natural history nomenclature
3
Stage 3 of 3
jerboa
English · 1660s
"small desert rodent"
entered English as the common name for the small jumping rodent
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