sash

Where does the word "sash" come from? It comes from Arabic shash, and was adopted directly into English (1500s-1600s).

Sash’s story begins in Arabic: shash meant “muslin cloth, turban wrap.” A fine muslin cloth, often wound as a turban. It reached English by 1500s-1600s as sash. Adopted for a band of cloth worn around the waist or over the shoulder. Today, sash means a decorative band of cloth worn around the waist or over one shoulder.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval shash "muslin cloth, turban wrap", a fine muslin cloth, often wound as a turban.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1500s-1600s sash "a decorative band of cloth", adopted for a band of cloth worn around the waist or over the shoulder.