kef

Where does the word "kef" come from? It comes from Arabic kaif, and was adopted directly into English (1808).

Kef’s story begins in Arabic: kaif meant “well-being, pleasurable idleness.” Meant "well-being, good humor," the pleasure of idleness. It reached English by 1808 as kef. Entered English describing a dreamy, relaxed state, especially one induced by smoking cannabis in North Africa. Today, kef means a state of drowsy, dreamlike relaxation; also, the resin (kief) used for smoking cannabis.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval kaif "well-being, pleasurable idleness", meant "well-being, good humor," the pleasure of idleness.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1808 kef "state of drowsy relaxation", entered English describing a dreamy, relaxed state, especially one induced by smoking cannabis in North Africa.