tavla

Where does the word "tavla" come from? It comes from Latin tabula, passing through Byzantine Greek and Turkish before entering English (1900s).

Tavla’s story begins in Latin: tabula meant “board.” A board; Romans played a backgammon-like game called 'tabula'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Byzantine Greek as tavli. The board game, still called 'tavli' in Greece. From there it passed into Turkish as tavla by 1500s. Played everywhere in Turkish coffeehouses. It reached English by 1900s as tavla. Used in English for backgammon as played in Turkey. Today, tavla means the Turkish name for backgammon.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient tabula "board", a board; Romans played a backgammon-like game called 'tabula'.
2. Stage 2 · Byzantine Greek · medieval tavli "backgammon", the board game, still called 'tavli' in Greece.
3. Stage 3 · Turkish · 1500s tavla "backgammon", played everywhere in Turkish coffeehouses.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1900s tavla "Turkish backgammon", used in English for backgammon as played in Turkey.