natron

Where does the word "natron" come from? It comes from Egyptian netjeryt, passing through Ancient Greek, Arabic and French before entering English (1680s).

Natron’s story begins in Egyptian: netjeryt meant “a naturally occurring salt used in embalming.” Mined from the Wadi El Natrun valley and used in mummification and ritual. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Ancient Greek as nitron. Greek writers adopted the Egyptian salt's name. From there it passed into Arabic as natrun by medieval. Passed through Arabic usage in medieval trade and pharmacology texts. French picked it up next, as natron, around 1660s. French chemists borrowed the Arabic term for the mineral. It reached English by 1680s as natron. Entered English scientific vocabulary for the sodium mineral. Today, natron means a naturally occurring mineral (sodium carbonate) historically used by ancient Egyptians in mummification, today used in chemistry and glassmaking.

1. Stage 1 · Egyptian · ancient netjeryt "a naturally occurring salt used in embalming", mined from the Wadi El Natrun valley and used in mummification and ritual.
2. Stage 2 · Ancient Greek · ancient nitron "native soda mineral", Greek writers adopted the Egyptian salt's name.
3. Stage 3 · Arabic · medieval natrun "mineral salt or soda", passed through Arabic usage in medieval trade and pharmacology texts.
4. Stage 4 · French · 1660s natron "sodium carbonate mineral", French chemists borrowed the Arabic term for the mineral.
5. Stage 5 · English · 1680s natron "a natural mineral form of sodium carbonate", entered English scientific vocabulary for the sodium mineral.