mecca

Where does the word "mecca" come from? It comes from Arabic Makkah, and was adopted directly into English (1826).

Mecca’s story begins in Arabic: Makkah meant “sacred city.” The sacred city, birthplace of Muhammad and center of Islamic pilgrimage. It reached English by 1826 as mecca. Generalized as a figurative common noun for any place people hold supremely important. Today, mecca means a place regarded as the most important or desirable destination for people with a particular interest.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · ancient Makkah "sacred city", the sacred city, birthplace of Muhammad and center of Islamic pilgrimage.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1826 mecca "a place of central importance or pilgrimage", generalized as a figurative common noun for any place people hold supremely important.