palanquin

Where does the word "palanquin" come from? It comes from Sanskrit palyanka, passing through Portuguese before entering English (1600s).

Palanquin’s story begins in Sanskrit: palyanka meant “a bed, couch.” A covered litter carried on poles by bearers. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in Portuguese as palanquim. From Sanskrit 'palyanka', bed; Portuguese traders brought the word from India. It reached English by 1600s as palanquin. Settled as the English word for the carried litter. Today, palanquin means a covered litter for one passenger, carried on poles by bearers.

1. Stage 1 · Sanskrit · ancient palyanka "a bed, couch", a covered litter carried on poles by bearers.
2. Stage 2 · Portuguese · 1500s palanquim "a covered litter carried by bearers", from Sanskrit 'palyanka', bed; Portuguese traders brought the word from India.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1600s palanquin "a covered litter carried on poles", settled as the English word for the carried litter.