sultana

Where does the word "sultana" come from? It comes from Arabic sultan, passing through Italian before entering English (1800s).

Sultana’s story begins in Arabic: sultan meant “ruler, power.” Meaning "ruler", the root shared with the title "sultan". By 1800s, the word had taken hold in Italian as sultana. Named a type of seedless golden raisin, possibly linked to Ottoman trade. It reached English by 1800s as sultana. The Sultana grape was named in Turkey; Australian and Greek growers supply most sultanas today. Today, sultana means a small, golden seedless raisin.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval sultan "ruler, power", meaning "ruler", the root shared with the title "sultan".
2. Stage 2 · Italian · 1800s sultana "a golden seedless raisin", named a type of seedless golden raisin, possibly linked to Ottoman trade.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1800s sultana "a small, golden seedless raisin", the Sultana grape was named in Turkey; Australian and Greek growers supply most sultanas today.