sherbet

Where does the word "sherbet" come from? It comes from Arabic sharāb, passing through Ottoman Turkish before entering English (1600s).

Sherbet’s story begins in Arabic: sharāb meant “a drink, beverage.” A general word for a drink, root of "syrup" as well. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in Ottoman Turkish as şerbet. Referred to a chilled, sweet fruit drink at court. It reached English by 1600s as sherbet. Later also applied to a fizzy powder and frozen dessert. Today, sherbet means a sweet flavored powder, or a frozen fruit-based dessert.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval sharāb "a drink, beverage", a general word for a drink, root of "syrup" as well.
2. Stage 2 · Ottoman Turkish · 1500s şerbet "a sweet fruit drink", referred to a chilled, sweet fruit drink at court.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1600s sherbet "a cooling sweet drink", later also applied to a fizzy powder and frozen dessert.