Etymology Map
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Tiara

4 stages from Persian to English.

Today it means a jeweled ornamental band or crown worn on the head, especially by women on formal occasions

Where does the word "tiara" come from? It comes from Persian tiara, passing through Greek and Latin before entering English (1550s).

1
Stage 1 of 4
tiara
Persian · ancient
"royal Persian headdress"
a tall, peaked headdress worn by Persian kings and nobles
2
Stage 2 of 4
tiara
Greek · ancient
"Persian crown"
Greek writers borrowed the word to describe the Persian royal crown
3
Stage 3 of 4
tiara
Latin · ancient
"headdress, crown"
carried into Latin unchanged
4
Stage 4 of 4
tiara
English · 1550s
"jeweled headpiece"
first used for Persian and papal crowns, later for jeweled women's headbands
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