mayonnaise

Where does the word "mayonnaise" come from? It comes from Spanish/Catalan Mahon, passing through French before entering English (1820s).

Mayonnaise’s story begins in Spanish/Catalan: Mahon meant “a port city on Menorca.” The capital of Menorca, said to be the birthplace of the creamy egg-and-oil sauce. By 1750s, the word had taken hold in French as mahonnaise. Adapted in French for the rich, creamy sauce named after the city. It reached English by 1820s as mayonnaise. Settled as the English word for the creamy condiment. Today, mayonnaise means a creamy condiment made by emulsifying egg yolk, oil, and vinegar or lemon juice.

1. Stage 1 · Spanish/Catalan · 1700s Mahon "a port city on Menorca", the capital of Menorca, said to be the birthplace of the creamy egg-and-oil sauce.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1750s mahonnaise "a rich, creamy egg-and-oil sauce", adapted in French for the rich, creamy sauce named after the city.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1820s mayonnaise "a creamy condiment made from egg yolk and oil", settled as the English word for the creamy condiment.