musk

Where does the word "musk" come from? It comes from Sanskrit muska, passing through Persian, Late Greek, Medieval Latin and Old French before entering English (medieval).

Musk’s story begins in Sanskrit: muska meant “a scent gland.” Literally "testicle", describing the scent gland's shape. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Persian as mushk. Adopted for the strong-smelling glandular secretion. From there it passed into Late Greek as moschos by ancient. Carried the aromatic substance west along trade routes. Medieval Latin picked it up next, as muscus, around medieval. The Latin form used by European traders and scholars. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as musc. The French form that passed the word into English. It reached English by medieval as musk. Settled as the English name for the fragrance. Today, musk means a strong-smelling substance used in perfumes, originally from a deer gland.

1. Stage 1 · Sanskrit · ancient muska "a scent gland", literally "testicle", describing the scent gland's shape.
2. Stage 2 · Persian · ancient mushk "musk", adopted for the strong-smelling glandular secretion.
3. Stage 3 · Late Greek · ancient moschos "musk", carried the aromatic substance west along trade routes.
4. Stage 4 · Medieval Latin · medieval muscus "musk", the Latin form used by European traders and scholars.
5. Stage 5 · Old French · medieval musc "musk", the French form that passed the word into English.
6. Stage 6 · English · medieval musk "a strong, musky fragrance", settled as the English name for the fragrance.