kremlin

Where does the word "kremlin" come from? It comes from Russian kreml, and was adopted directly into English (1800s).

Kremlin’s story begins in Russian: kreml meant “a fortified citadel.” A fortified citadel at the center of a Russian city. It reached English by 1800s as kremlin. Settled as the name for Moscow's citadel, later shorthand for the Russian government. Today, kremlin means the Russian government, or a citadel within a Russian city.

1. Stage 1 · Russian · medieval kreml "a fortified citadel", a fortified citadel at the center of a Russian city.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1800s kremlin "a Russian citadel, or the Russian government", settled as the name for Moscow's citadel, later shorthand for the Russian government.