English
garam masala
Garam masala comes from Hindi गरम मसाला ‘hot spice’, from Persian مصلحت ‘affair, policy, best thing to do’, and ultimately from Arabic مَصْلَحَة ‘verbal noun of صَلَحَ (ṣalaḥa) (form I)’.
- Arabicc. 500–presentمَصْلَحَة‘verbal noun of صَلَحَ (ṣalaḥa) (form I)’
- Persianc. 900–presentمصلحتmaslahat‘affair, policy, best thing to do’
- Persian, derivedc. 900–presentمصالحmasâlih‘affairs, materials, spices’plural of مصلحت
- Hindic. 1500–presentगरम मसाला‘hot spice’
- Englishtodaygaram masala
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Arabicc. 500–presentمَصْلَحَة‘verbal noun of صَلَحَ (ṣalaḥa) (form I)’
- Persianc. 900–presentمصلحتmaslahat‘affair, policy, best thing to do’
- Persian, derivedc. 900–presentمصالحmasâlih‘affairs, materials, spices’plural of مصلحت
- Hindic. 1500–presentगरम मसाला‘hot spice’
- Englishtodaygaram masala
Every English word from Arabic مَصْلَحَة
Today it means
noun A mixture of spices used in Indian dishes, such as coriander, cumin, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, star anise, and chillis.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Arabic مَصْلَحَة / garam masala