talc

Where does the word "talc" come from? It comes from Arabic talq, passing through French before entering English (medieval).

Talc’s story begins in Arabic: talq meant “talc mineral.” The Arabic name for the soft mineral. By medieval, the word had taken hold in French as talc. From Persian 'talk'; the softest mineral on the Mohs scale. It reached English by medieval as talc. Settled as the English mineral name. Today, talc means a soft mineral used to make talcum powder and other products.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval talq "talc mineral", the Arabic name for the soft mineral.
2. Stage 2 · French · medieval talc "talc mineral", from Persian 'talk'; the softest mineral on the Mohs scale.
3. Stage 3 · English · medieval talc "a soft mineral used in powders", settled as the English mineral name.