naphtha

Where does the word "naphtha" come from? It comes from Persian naft, passing through Greek before entering English (medieval).

Naphtha’s story begins in Persian: naft meant “a flammable oil.” An ancient name for a flammable petroleum liquid. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Greek as naphtha. Adopted for the flammable substance encountered in the Near East. It reached English by medieval as naphtha. Settled as the English name via Latin. Today, naphtha means a flammable liquid distilled from petroleum or coal tar.

1. Stage 1 · Persian · ancient naft "a flammable oil", an ancient name for a flammable petroleum liquid.
2. Stage 2 · Greek · ancient naphtha "a flammable liquid petroleum product", adopted for the flammable substance encountered in the Near East.
3. Stage 3 · English · medieval naphtha "a flammable liquid distilled from petroleum", settled as the English name via Latin.