Etymology Map
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Karakul

3 stages from Uzbek to English.

Today it means a Central Asian sheep, or the curly black fleece of its newborn lambs

Where does the word "karakul" come from? It comes from Uzbek Qorakoʻl, passing through Russian before entering English (1890s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
Qorakoʻl
Uzbek · medieval
"black lake (a town)"
'black lake', an oasis town near Bukhara that was the centre of the breed
2
Stage 2 of 3
karakul
Russian · 1800s
"karakul lambskin"
Russian traders named the prized Bukharan lambskin after the town
3
Stage 3 of 3
karakul
English · 1890s
"karakul sheep or fur"
sold in the West as 'Persian lamb' or 'astrakhan', it became a fashionable fur for coats and hats
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Read the full story

Karakul’s story begins in Uzbek: Qorakoʻl meant “black lake (a town).” 'black lake', an oasis town near Bukhara that was the centre of the breed. By 1800s, the word had taken hold in Russian as karakul. Russian traders named the prized Bukharan lambskin after the town. It reached English by 1890s as karakul. Sold in the West as 'Persian lamb' or 'astrakhan', it became a fashionable fur for coats and hats. Today, karakul means a Central Asian sheep, or the curly black fleece of its newborn lambs.