maraca

Where does the word "maraca" come from? It comes from Tupi maraka, passing through Portuguese before entering English (1650s).

Maraca’s story begins in Tupi: maraka meant “a hollow rattle instrument.” Named the hollow, seed-filled rattle used in ceremonies. By 1600s, the word had taken hold in Portuguese as maracá. Tupi shamans used gourd rattles in ceremonies. It reached English by 1650s as maraca. Borrowed into English through accounts of South American music and culture. Today, maraca means a hand-held percussion instrument consisting of a hollow shell filled with beads or seeds.

1. Stage 1 · Tupi · pre-1500s maraka "a hollow rattle instrument", named the hollow, seed-filled rattle used in ceremonies.
2. Stage 2 · Portuguese · 1600s maracá "a rattle percussion instrument", Tupi shamans used gourd rattles in ceremonies.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1650s maraca "a hand-held percussion rattle", borrowed into English through accounts of South American music and culture.