simit

Where does the word "simit" come from? It comes from Arabic samīd, passing through Ottoman Turkish before entering English (2000s).

Simit’s story begins in Arabic: samīd meant “fine flour.” Fine white flour or semolina. By 1500s-1600s, the word had taken hold in Ottoman Turkish as simit. Istanbul vendors carry stacks of simit on trays on their heads. It reached English by 2000s as simit. Entered English through Turkish bakeries and cafés abroad. Today, simit means a ring of bread coated in sesame seeds, sold as a street snack in Turkey.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval samīd "fine flour", fine white flour or semolina.
2. Stage 2 · Ottoman Turkish · 1500s-1600s simit "sesame bread ring", Istanbul vendors carry stacks of simit on trays on their heads.
3. Stage 3 · English · 2000s simit "sesame bread ring", entered English through Turkish bakeries and cafés abroad.