taffeta

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

Taffeta’s story begins in Persian: tafta meant “a twisted, woven cloth.” Meaning "twisted" or "woven", describing the crisp fabric. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Italian as taffeta. Persian 'tāftah', twisted, woven. From there it passed into Old French as taffetas by medieval. Spread through European luxury textile trade. It reached English by medieval as taffeta. Settled as the English name for the fabric. Today, taffeta means a crisp, smooth fabric, traditionally made of silk.

1. Stage 1 · Persian · medieval tafta "a twisted, woven cloth", meaning "twisted" or "woven", describing the crisp fabric.
2. Stage 2 · Italian · medieval taffeta "a crisp, plain-woven silk", Persian 'tāftah', twisted, woven.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval taffetas "a crisp silk fabric", spread through European luxury textile trade.
4. Stage 4 · English · medieval taffeta "a crisp, smooth silk or synthetic fabric", settled as the English name for the fabric.