sombrero

Where does the word "sombrero" come from? It comes from Spanish sombra, passing through Spanish before entering English (1800s).

Sombrero’s story begins in Spanish: sombra meant “shade.” Within Spanish, it grew into sombrero by medieval. Named the broad-brimmed hat that provides shade. It reached English by 1800s as sombrero. From Spanish 'sombra', shade. Today, sombrero means a broad-brimmed hat, traditionally worn in Mexico and the American Southwest.

1. Stage 1 · Spanish · medieval sombra "shade", meaning "shade".
2. Stage 2 · Spanish · medieval sombrero "a broad-brimmed hat", named the broad-brimmed hat that provides shade.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1800s sombrero "a broad-brimmed straw or felt hat", from Spanish 'sombra', shade.