Vol. 09 · Loanwords ·Arabic ·1670s
Alcove
from al-qubbah
- Meaning
- A small recess or nook in a room.
- Source word
- al-qubbah
- Route into English
- Arabic *al-qubbah* (the vault) → Spanish *alcoba* (bedroom) → French *alcôve* → English. The Arabic meant a domed chamber; the English narrowed it to a recess.
- Arrived
- 1670s
From Arabic
Science, trade, and the Mediterranean transit of Andalusian scholarship gave English its Arabic stratum — especially in maths, chemistry, and commerce. Many entered through Latin or Italian.
English borrows.
Browse the full loanword atlas or explore another source language.