spinach

Where does the word "spinach" come from? It comes from Persian aspanakh, passing through Arabic and Old French before entering English (medieval).

Spinach’s story begins in Persian: aspanakh meant “spinach.” The Persian name for the leafy green vegetable. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Arabic as isbanakh. Carried the vegetable west through Arab agriculture. From there it passed into Old French as espinache by medieval. Reshaped by association with "epine" (thorn). It reached English by medieval as spinach. Settled as the English name for the vegetable. Today, spinach means a leafy green vegetable rich in iron and vitamins.

1. Stage 1 · Persian · medieval aspanakh "spinach", the Persian name for the leafy green vegetable.
2. Stage 2 · Arabic · medieval isbanakh "spinach", carried the vegetable west through Arab agriculture.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval espinache "spinach", reshaped by association with "epine" (thorn).
4. Stage 4 · English · medieval spinach "the leafy green vegetable", settled as the English name for the vegetable.