Vol. 09 · Loanwords ·Arabic ·1630s
Talisman
from ṭilasm
- Meaning
- An object held to have magical protective powers.
- Source word
- ṭilasm
- Route into English
- Greek *telesma* (consecration rite) → Arabic *ṭilasm* → French *talisman* → English in the 17th century. The Arabic was a technical term for a consecrated charm.
- Arrived
- 1630s
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.