tarboosh

Where does the word "tarboosh" come from? It comes from Persian sar + push, passing through Ottoman Turkish and Arabic before entering English (1695-1705).

Tarboosh’s story begins in Persian: sar + push meant “head covering.” Compound of sar, "head," and push, "cover". By medieval, the word had taken hold in Ottoman Turkish as terposh. Adapted the Persian compound for a brimless cap. From there it passed into Arabic as tarbush by 1600s. Spread the cap and its name through Ottoman Arab lands. It reached English by 1695-1705 as tarboosh. Entered English describing the red felt cap similar to the fez. Today, tarboosh means a red felt cap, similar to a fez, traditionally worn by Muslim men in the Middle East.

1. Stage 1 · Persian · medieval sar + push "head covering", compound of sar, "head," and push, "cover".
2. Stage 2 · Ottoman Turkish · medieval terposh "head cap", adapted the Persian compound for a brimless cap.
3. Stage 3 · Arabic · 1600s tarbush "red felt cap", spread the cap and its name through Ottoman Arab lands.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1695-1705 tarboosh "red felt cap", entered English describing the red felt cap similar to the fez.