Etymograph

English

alkanet

Alkanet comes from Spanish alcana ‘privet’, and goes back to Arabic الحِنَّاء ‘henna’.

  1. Arabicc. 500–presentالحِنَّاء‘henna’
  2. Medieval Latinc. 600–1500alcanna
  3. Spanishc. 1500–presentalcana‘privet’
  4. Englishtodayalkanet

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Arabicc. 500–presentالحِنَّاء‘henna’
  2. Medieval Latinc. 600–1500alcanna
  3. Spanishc. 1500–presentalcana‘privet’
  4. Englishtodayalkanet

Every English word from Arabic الحِنَّاء

Today it means

noun The dyeing matter extracted from the roots of the plant with water or oil, used for cotton especially but also silk and wool, giving a deep red colour.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Arabic الحِنَّاء / alkanet

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