Etymology Map
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Kulfi

3 stages from Persian to English.

Today it means a dense frozen Indian dessert

Where does the word "kulfi" come from? It comes from Persian qulfī, passing through Urdu before entering English (1900s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
qulfī
Persian · medieval
"covered cup"
'covered cup', from 'qulf', lock, for the sealed moulds
2
Stage 2 of 3
kulfī
Urdu · 1500s
"frozen dessert"
a Mughal-era frozen dessert, set in sealed cones packed in ice and salt
3
Stage 3 of 3
kulfi
English · 1900s
"Indian ice cream"
borrowed with Indian cooking
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Read the full story

Kulfi’s story begins in Persian: qulfī meant “covered cup.” 'covered cup', from 'qulf', lock, for the sealed moulds. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in Urdu as kulfī. A Mughal-era frozen dessert, set in sealed cones packed in ice and salt. It reached English by 1900s as kulfi. Borrowed with Indian cooking. Today, kulfi means a dense frozen Indian dessert.