julep

Where does the word "julep" come from? It comes from Persian gulab, passing through Arabic and Old French before entering English (1500s-1800s).

Julep’s story begins in Persian: gulab meant “rose water drink.” Literally "rose water", a sweetened flavored drink. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Arabic as julab. Adopted the sweet syrupy drink into Arabic medicine and cuisine. From there it passed into Old French as julep by medieval. Adopted for a sweetened medicinal drink. It reached English by 1500s-1800s as julep. Later applied to the minted, iced American cocktail. Today, julep means a sweet drink, especially a minted iced cocktail like the mint julep.

1. Stage 1 · Persian · medieval gulab "rose water drink", literally "rose water", a sweetened flavored drink.
2. Stage 2 · Arabic · medieval julab "a sweet syrup drink", adopted the sweet syrupy drink into Arabic medicine and cuisine.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval julep "a sweetened drink", adopted for a sweetened medicinal drink.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1500s-1800s julep "a sweet, often minted drink", later applied to the minted, iced American cocktail.