Etymology Map
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Patchouli

2 stages from Tamil to English.

Today it means A bushy herb of the mint family, and the heavy, musky essential oil made from its leaves.

Where does the word "patchouli" come from? It comes from Tamil pachchai ilai, adopted directly into English (1845).

1
Stage 1 of 2
pachchai ilai
Tamil · medieval
"green leaf; the patchouli plant"
literally 'green leaf', the local name for the aromatic plant
2
Stage 2 of 2
patchouli
English · 1845
"an aromatic plant and its heavy, musky oil"
borrowed directly from the Tamil name via Madras trade
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