pashmina

Where does the word "pashmina" come from? It comes from Persian pashm, passing through Kashmiri/Hindi before entering English (1900s).

Pashmina’s story begins in Persian: pashm meant “fine wool.” Meaning "wool", especially fine goat down. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Kashmiri/Hindi as pashmina. The fine wool woven into luxurious shawls in Kashmir. It reached English by 1900s as pashmina. Persian 'pashm', wool, from the undercoat of Changthangi goats of Ladakh. Today, pashmina means a fine, soft wool shawl, traditionally made from Kashmiri goat down.

1. Stage 1 · Persian · medieval pashm "fine wool", meaning "wool", especially fine goat down.
2. Stage 2 · Kashmiri/Hindi · medieval pashmina "fine cashmere wool shawl", the fine wool woven into luxurious shawls in Kashmir.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1900s pashmina "a fine wool shawl", Persian 'pashm', wool, from the undercoat of Changthangi goats of Ladakh.