Etymology Map
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Oud

2 stages from Arabic to English.

Today it means a Middle Eastern pear-shaped stringed instrument, the ancestor of the European lute

Where does the word "oud" come from? It comes from Arabic al-'ud, adopted directly into English (1738).

1
Stage 1 of 2
al-'ud
Arabic · medieval
"the wood, a stringed instrument"
literally "the wood," naming the pear-shaped wooden instrument
2
Stage 2 of 2
oud
English · 1738
"Arab lute-like instrument"
entered English descriptions of Middle Eastern music
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