Etymology Map
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Sumac

4 stages from Arabic to English.

Today it means a tangy red spice made from dried berries, or the shrub that produces them

Where does the word "sumac" come from? It comes from Arabic summaq, passing through Medieval Latin and Old French before entering English (c. 1300).

1
Stage 1 of 4
summaq
Arabic · medieval
"red"
meant simply "red," describing the spice's color
2
Stage 2 of 4
sumach
Medieval Latin · 1300s
"sumac dye plant"
adopted into European texts on dyeing and tanning
3
Stage 3 of 4
sumac
Old French · 1200s
"sumac"
carried the plant and dye trade into France
4
Stage 4 of 4
sumac
Middle English · c. 1300
"tangy red spice and shrub"
first used for the dried, chopped leaves used in tanning and dyeing, later the tangy spice
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