kulfi

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

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.

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