Etymology Map
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Saxaul

3 stages from Kazakh to English.

Today it means a small desert tree of Central Asia with very hard wood

Where does the word "saxaul" come from? It comes from Kazakh seksewil, passing through Russian before entering English (1880s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
seksewil
Kazakh · medieval
"desert tree"
the leafless tree that stabilizes sand in the Kyzylkum and Karakum deserts
2
Stage 2 of 3
saksaul
Russian · 1800s
"desert tree"
Russian botanists and travellers in Turkestan adopted the local name
3
Stage 3 of 3
saxaul
English · 1880s
"Central Asian desert tree"
taken into English botanical writing; saxaul forests are now planted on the dried bed of the Aral Sea
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Read the full story

Saxaul’s story begins in Kazakh: seksewil meant “desert tree.” The leafless tree that stabilizes sand in the Kyzylkum and Karakum deserts. By 1800s, the word had taken hold in Russian as saksaul. Russian botanists and travellers in Turkestan adopted the local name. It reached English by 1880s as saxaul. Taken into English botanical writing; saxaul forests are now planted on the dried bed of the Aral Sea. Today, saxaul means a small desert tree of Central Asia with very hard wood.