English
ganja
Ganja comes from Hindi गांजा ‘ganja, marijuana, weed’, and goes back to Sanskrit गञ्जा ‘hemp’.
- Sanskritc. 1500–500 BCEगञ्जाgañjā‘hemp’
- Hindic. 1500–presentगांजाgāñjā‘ganja, marijuana, weed’
- Englishearliest quotation 1873ganja
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Sanskritc. 1500–500 BCEगञ्जाgañjā‘hemp’
- Hindic. 1500–presentगांजाgāñjā‘ganja, marijuana, weed’
- Englishearliest quotation 1873ganja
Earliest quotation: 1873, Indian Antiquary, Volume 2: “Whilst a ganja-eater was catching fish on the bank…”
The story
First use appears c. 1800.
Every English word from Sanskrit गञ्जा
Today it means
noun Marijuana, the inflorescence of the Cannabis sativa plant, smoked or ingested for euphoric effect.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Sanskrit गञ्जा / ganja