Etymology Map
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Puna

3 stages from Quechua to English.

Today it means a high, cold, arid plateau region of the central Andes

Where does the word "puna" come from? It comes from Quechua puna, passing through Spanish before entering English (1600s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
puna
Quechua · pre-1500s
"a high, cold plateau"
named the high, cold, treeless plateau of the Andes
2
Stage 2 of 3
puna
Spanish · 1550s
"a high Andean plateau; also, altitude sickness"
adopted by Spanish colonists describing the Andean highlands
3
Stage 3 of 3
puna
English · 1600s
"a high, cold, arid plateau, especially in the Andes"
borrowed into English geographical writing about South America
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