shampoo

Where does the word "shampoo" come from? It comes from Sanskrit capayati, passing through Hindi and English before entering English (1860s).

Shampoo’s story begins in Sanskrit: capayati meant “to press, to knead.” Meaning "pounds, kneads"; root of the Hindi imperative champo. By 1700s, the word had taken hold in Hindi as chāmpo. From "chāmpnā", to press or knead the body. From there it passed into English as shampoo by 1762. British visitors adopted the practice and word from Indian bathhouses. It reached English by 1860s as shampoo. Narrowed over time to mean washing the hair specifically. Today, shampoo means a liquid or cream product used to wash hair.

1. Stage 1 · Sanskrit · ancient capayati "to press, to knead", meaning "pounds, kneads"; root of the Hindi imperative champo.
2. Stage 2 · Hindi · 1700s chāmpo "to massage", from "chāmpnā", to press or knead the body.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1762 shampoo "to massage the body while bathing", British visitors adopted the practice and word from Indian bathhouses.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1860s shampoo "a liquid soap for washing hair", narrowed over time to mean washing the hair specifically.