Etymology Map
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Mangosteen

2 stages from Malay to English.

Today it means a tropical fruit with a thick purple rind and sweet white segments

Where does the word "mangosteen" come from? It comes from Malay manggista, adopted directly into English (1590s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
manggista
Malay · medieval
"mangosteen"
a fruit tree native to the islands of Southeast Asia; the fuller Malay form manggista (now usually manggis) gave Portuguese mangostão and Dutch mangistan
2
Stage 2 of 2
mangosteen
English · 1590s
"tropical fruit"
a popular story says Queen Victoria offered a reward for a fresh one, but no record of it exists; fresh mangosteens were only allowed into the US from 2007
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Mangosteen’s story begins in Malay: manggista meant “mangosteen.” A fruit tree native to the islands of Southeast Asia; the fuller Malay form manggista (now usually manggis) gave Portuguese mangostão and Dutch mangistan. It reached English by 1590s as mangosteen. A popular story says Queen Victoria offered a reward for a fresh one, but no record of it exists; fresh mangosteens were only allowed into the US from 2007. Today, mangosteen means a tropical fruit with a thick purple rind and sweet white segments.