magazine

Where does the word "magazine" come from? It comes from Arabic makhāzin, passing through Italian and French before entering English (c. 1730s).

Magazine’s story begins in Arabic: makhāzin meant “storehouses.” The plural of "makhzan", a storeroom. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Italian as magazzino. Arabic 'makhāzin', storehouses; the publication sense began with 'The Gentleman's Magazine' of 1731. From there it passed into French as magasin by c. 1500s. Kept the sense of a storehouse or shop. It reached English by c. 1730s as magazine. Extended metaphorically to a "storehouse" of information in print. Today, magazine means a periodical publication containing articles, images, and advertising.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval makhāzin "storehouses", the plural of "makhzan", a storeroom.
2. Stage 2 · Italian · medieval magazzino "warehouse", Arabic 'makhāzin', storehouses; the publication sense began with 'The Gentleman's Magazine' of 1731.
3. Stage 3 · French · c. 1500s magasin "storehouse, shop", kept the sense of a storehouse or shop.
4. Stage 4 · English · c. 1730s magazine "a periodical publication", extended metaphorically to a "storehouse" of information in print.