sequin

Where does the word "sequin" come from? It comes from Arabic sikka, passing through Italian and French before entering English (1600s-1700s).

Sequin’s story begins in Arabic: sikka meant “a coin die.” Meaning "a minting die", the tool used to stamp coins. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Italian as zecchino. The name of a Venetian gold coin. From there it passed into French as sequin by 1600s. Later applied to small, shiny coin-like ornaments. It reached English by 1600s-1700s as sequin. From Venetian 'zecchino', a gold coin minted at the 'zecca', mint; coins were sewn onto clothing. Today, sequin means a small, shiny disc sewn onto clothing for decoration.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval sikka "a coin die", meaning "a minting die", the tool used to stamp coins.
2. Stage 2 · Italian · medieval zecchino "a gold coin", the name of a Venetian gold coin.
3. Stage 3 · French · 1600s sequin "a small shiny decorative disc", later applied to small, shiny coin-like ornaments.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1600s-1700s sequin "a small, shiny decorative disc", from Venetian 'zecchino', a gold coin minted at the 'zecca', mint; coins were sewn onto clothing.