syrup
/ˈsɪr.əp/
noun
Origin
Arabic
šarāb — a beverage, drink, or wine
Overview
Meaning Now
- A thick, viscous liquid consisting primarily of a solution of sugar in water.
- A medicinal preparation consisting of a concentrated aqueous solution of sugar, often with added drugs.
Language path
Arabic → Medieval Latin → Old French → Middle English → English
Earliest form
sirup
Earliest period
14th century
Journey
The term entered the English language during the medieval period via medicine and alchemy. In its original Arabic context, 'šarāb' refers generally to any drink, but the term was specifically adopted into Western European medical terminology to describe sweet, thick decoctions of herbs and juices used for healing purposes.
Evolution
- Proto-Semitic
*šarāb-
“drink”
- Arabic
šarāb
“beverage, syrup”
- Medieval Latin
siruppus
“medicinal syrup”
Latinization of the Arabic term
- Old French
sirop
“syrup”
- Middle English
sirup
“syrup”
Connections
Word parts
syrup
root
viscous sugar solution
Related across languages
French
sirop
syrup
Italian
syrup
Spanish
jarabe
syrup
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.