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Zill

2 stages from Ottoman Turkish to English.

Today it means small finger cymbals played in pairs, especially by belly dancers

Where does the word "zill" come from? It comes from Ottoman Turkish zil, adopted directly into English (1900s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
zil
Ottoman Turkish · 1500s
"cymbal"
cymbals; in 1623 Avedis, an Armenian alchemist in Constantinople, began casting them and was given the name 'Zilciyan', cymbal-maker
2
Stage 2 of 2
zill
English · 1900s
"finger cymbals"
the family firm, as Zildjian, moved to Massachusetts in 1929; 'zills' became the English name for dancers' finger cymbals
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Read the full story

Zill’s story begins in Ottoman Turkish: zil meant “cymbal.” Cymbals; in 1623 Avedis, an Armenian alchemist in Constantinople, began casting them and was given the name 'Zilciyan', cymbal-maker. It reached English by 1900s as zill. The family firm, as Zildjian, moved to Massachusetts in 1929; 'zills' became the English name for dancers' finger cymbals. Today, zill means small finger cymbals played in pairs, especially by belly dancers.