satin

Where does the word "satin" come from? It comes from Arabic Zaytun, passing through Arabic and Old French before entering English (medieval).

Satin’s story begins in Arabic: Zaytun meant “the port city of Quanzhou.” The Arabic name for the Chinese port city of Quanzhou. Within Arabic, it grew into zaytuni by medieval. Described the glossy silk fabric exported from that port. From there it passed into Old French as satin by medieval. From Arabic 'Zaytūnī', of Zaitun, the name for the Chinese port of Quanzhou. It reached English by medieval as satin. Settled as the English name for the fabric weave. Today, satin means a smooth, glossy fabric woven with a distinctive shiny surface.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval Zaytun "the port city of Quanzhou", the Arabic name for the Chinese port city of Quanzhou.
2. Stage 2 · Arabic · medieval zaytuni "silk from Quanzhou", described the glossy silk fabric exported from that port.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval satin "a glossy silk weave", from Arabic 'Zaytūnī', of Zaitun, the name for the Chinese port of Quanzhou.
4. Stage 4 · English · medieval satin "a smooth, glossy fabric weave", settled as the English name for the fabric weave.