Etymology Map
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Neem

3 stages from Sanskrit to English.

Today it means A fast-growing tropical tree native to South Asia, valued for its medicinal, pesticidal, and cosmetic uses.

Where does the word "neem" come from? It comes from Sanskrit nimba, passing through Hindi before entering English (19th-20th c.).

1
Stage 1 of 3
nimba
Sanskrit · ancient
"the neem tree"
named the bitter, medicinal tree
2
Stage 2 of 3
nim
Hindi · medieval
"neem tree"
the everyday name for the tree
3
Stage 3 of 3
neem
English · 19th-20th c.
"a fast-growing tree valued for its medicinal and pesticidal properties"
adopted into English via colonial botany and later herbal medicine
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