maize

Where does the word "maize" come from? It comes from Taíno mahiz, passing through Spanish before entering English (1500s).

Maize’s story begins in Taíno: mahiz meant “corn plant.” The Taíno name for the corn plant. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in Spanish as maíz. Adopted after Spanish contact with the Caribbean. It reached English by 1500s as maize. Columbus's crews brought maize back to Spain in 1493. Today, maize means a cereal plant with large grains on a cob, also called corn.

1. Stage 1 · Taíno · pre-1500s mahiz "corn plant", the Taíno name for the corn plant.
2. Stage 2 · Spanish · 1500s maíz "corn", adopted after Spanish contact with the Caribbean.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s maize "corn", Columbus's crews brought maize back to Spain in 1493.