sandalwood

Where does the word "sandalwood" come from? It comes from Sanskrit candana, passing through Middle Persian, Arabic, Byzantine Greek and Medieval Latin before entering English (15th c.).

Sandalwood’s story begins in Sanskrit: candana meant “fragrant wood for incense.” Named the fragrant heartwood burned as incense in ritual. By 1st millennium, the word had taken hold in Middle Persian as čandan. Traders carried the Sanskrit name west with the wood itself. From there it passed into Arabic as sandal by medieval. Arab merchants passed the word along the incense trade routes. Byzantine Greek picked it up next, as santalon, around medieval. Greek-speaking traders adopted the Arabic form. By 12th-14th c., the word had taken hold in Medieval Latin as sandalum. Entered scholarly Latin, then Old French. It reached English by 15th c. as sandalwood. Middle English sandell fused with 'wood' to name the tree and its timber. Today, sandalwood means a fragrant wood, and the evergreen tree it comes from, used in perfume, incense, and carving.

1. Stage 1 · Sanskrit · ancient candana "fragrant wood for incense", named the fragrant heartwood burned as incense in ritual.
2. Stage 2 · Middle Persian · 1st millennium čandan "the fragrant Indian wood", traders carried the Sanskrit name west with the wood itself.
3. Stage 3 · Arabic · medieval sandal "fragrant wood", Arab merchants passed the word along the incense trade routes.
4. Stage 4 · Byzantine Greek · medieval santalon "sandalwood", Greek-speaking traders adopted the Arabic form.
5. Stage 5 · Medieval Latin · 12th-14th c. sandalum "sandalwood", entered scholarly Latin, then Old French.
6. Stage 6 · English · 15th c. sandalwood "the fragrant wood and the tree", Middle English sandell fused with 'wood' to name the tree and its timber.