shrub

Where does the word "shrub" come from? It comes from Arabic shurb, and was adopted directly into English (1600s-1700s).

Shrub’s story begins in Arabic: shurb meant “a drink.” Meaning "a drink", from the same root as "sherbet" and "syrup". It reached English by 1600s-1700s as shrub. Applied to a drink of fruit juice, sugar, and vinegar or spirits. Today, shrub means a drink or syrup made from fruit, sugar, and vinegar, sometimes with spirits.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval shurb "a drink", meaning "a drink", from the same root as "sherbet" and "syrup".
2. Stage 2 · English · 1600s-1700s shrub "a fruit and vinegar or spirit-based drink", applied to a drink of fruit juice, sugar, and vinegar or spirits.