minaret

Where does the word "minaret" come from? It comes from Arabic manara, passing through Ottoman Turkish and French before entering English (1600s-1700s).

Minaret’s story begins in Arabic: manara meant “lighthouse, place of fire.” Literally "lighthouse", from "nar" (fire). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Ottoman Turkish as minare. Applied to the tall tower of a mosque. From there it passed into French as minaret by 1600s. From Arabic 'manāra', lighthouse, a place of fire or light. It reached English by 1600s-1700s as minaret. The muezzin's call to prayer is given from the minaret. Today, minaret means a tall, slender tower on a mosque, used for the call to prayer.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval manara "lighthouse, place of fire", literally "lighthouse", from "nar" (fire).
2. Stage 2 · Ottoman Turkish · medieval minare "mosque tower", applied to the tall tower of a mosque.
3. Stage 3 · French · 1600s minaret "a mosque tower", from Arabic 'manāra', lighthouse, a place of fire or light.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1600s-1700s minaret "the tall slender tower of a mosque", the muezzin's call to prayer is given from the minaret.