turban

Where does the word "turban" come from? It comes from Persian dulband, passing through Ottoman Turkish and Italian before entering English (1500s-1600s).

Turban’s story begins in Persian: dulband meant “turban.” By medieval, the word had taken hold in Ottoman Turkish as tülbent. The cloth headwrap worn across the region. From there it passed into Italian as turbante by 1500s. European observers of the Ottoman court described turbans, and the fashion influenced European headwear. It reached English by 1500s-1600s as turban. Settled as the English word for the headwear. Today, turban means a head covering made by winding a long cloth around the head.

1. Stage 1 · Persian · medieval dulband "turban", meaning "turban".
2. Stage 2 · Ottoman Turkish · medieval tülbent "turban cloth", the cloth headwrap worn across the region.
3. Stage 3 · Italian · 1500s turbante "turban", European observers of the Ottoman court described turbans, and the fashion influenced European headwear.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1500s-1600s turban "a headdress formed by wrapping cloth around the head", settled as the English word for the headwear.