English
kuff
Kuff comes from Arabic كَافِر ‘disbeliever, unbeliever’, and goes back to كَفَرَ.
- Arabicc. 500–presentكَفَرَkafara‘to disbelieve’
- Arabic, derivedc. 500–presentكَافِرkuffāras كُفَّار‘disbeliever, unbeliever’
- Englishearliest quotation 2009kuff
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history not traced here.
Lineage
- Arabicc. 500–presentكَفَرَkafara‘to disbelieve’
- Arabic, derivedc. 500–presentكَافِرkuffāras كُفَّار‘disbeliever, unbeliever’
- Englishearliest quotation 2009kuff
Earliest quotation: 2009, Ophelia Benson, Jeremy Stangroom: “Given the clash of civilizations theory, Islamic views on…”
The story
Shortened form of kuffar; from the Arabic كُفَّار (kuffār), the plural form of كَافِر (kāfir).
Linked words
through Arabic كَفَرَ ‘to disbelieve’
through Arabic كَافِر ‘disbeliever, unbeliever’
Today it means
noun A non-Muslim.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Arabic كَفَرَ / kuff