kaymak

Where does the word "kaymak" come from? It comes from Turkic qaymaq, passing through Turkish and Serbian before entering English (1900s).

Kaymak’s story begins in Turkic: qaymaq meant “clotted cream.” Skimmed from slowly heated milk by Turkic herders. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in Turkish as kaymak. Eaten at breakfast with honey as 'bal kaymak'. From there it passed into Serbian as kajmak by 1800s. Serbian kajmak is salted and aged, closer to a soft cheese. It reached English by 1900s as kaymak. Entered English through Turkish and Balkan cooking. Today, kaymak means a thick clotted cream from Turkey and the Balkans.

1. Stage 1 · Turkic · medieval qaymaq "clotted cream", skimmed from slowly heated milk by Turkic herders.
2. Stage 2 · Turkish · 1500s kaymak "clotted cream", eaten at breakfast with honey as 'bal kaymak'.
3. Stage 3 · Serbian · 1800s kajmak "salted cream", Serbian kajmak is salted and aged, closer to a soft cheese.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1900s kaymak "clotted cream", entered English through Turkish and Balkan cooking.