kantha

Where does the word "kantha" come from? It comes from Sanskrit kontha, passing through Bengali before entering English (20th c.).

Kantha’s story begins in Sanskrit: kontha meant “rags, patched cloth.” Meant 'rags'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Bengali as kantha. Named a quilt of stitched-together rags, embroidered by rural women. It reached English by 20th c. as kantha. Bengali women stitched old saris into kantha quilts with running stitch. Today, kantha means a traditional Bengali embroidered quilt made by stitching together layers of old cloth.

1. Stage 1 · Sanskrit · ancient kontha "rags, patched cloth", meant 'rags'.
2. Stage 2 · Bengali · medieval kantha "a rag quilt with running-stitch embroidery", named a quilt of stitched-together rags, embroidered by rural women.
3. Stage 3 · English · 20th c. kantha "a traditional Bengali embroidered quilt made from layered cloth", Bengali women stitched old saris into kantha quilts with running stitch.