scarlet

Where does the word "scarlet" come from? It comes from Arabic siqillat, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Scarlet’s story begins in Arabic: siqillat meant “a fine textile.” A fine, rich cloth, later associated with the vivid red dye it was often colored with. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as escarlate. Carried into French for the fine cloth and its bright red color. It reached English by 1300s as scarlet. Narrowed to mean specifically the vivid red color. Today, scarlet means a vivid red color, often tinged with orange.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval siqillat "a fine textile", a fine, rich cloth, later associated with the vivid red dye it was often colored with.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval escarlate "a fine cloth, or its bright red color", carried into French for the fine cloth and its bright red color.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s scarlet "a vivid red color", narrowed to mean specifically the vivid red color.