English Words from Arabic origins

(words that have come into English directly or indirectly, from or through, Arabic)

aba (s) (noun), abas (pl)
1. A long, sleeveless outer garment worn by Arabs, similar to a gown: In her book, Jane saw picture of an Arab wearing an Abu, a garment made of silk or aba.
2. A woolen fabric, usually having stripes, made in Arab countries: Aba is a coarse felted cloth woven from goat or camel hair.
admiral (s) (noun), admirals (pl)
1. The supreme commander of a navy or fleet: A full admiral or four-star admiral is the highest possible rank in the United States Navy.
2. Etymology: from Arabic: amir al, "chief of the"; amir-ar-rahl, "chief of the transport", officer in the Mediterranean fleet, from amir, "leader".
alcohol (s) (noun) (no pl)
1. The colorless, flammable, volatile liquid in wine, beer, whiskey, gin, and other fermented and distilled liquids that makes them intoxicating: Grain alcohol and ethyl alcohol are commercially prepared from grain.

Alcohol is used in medicine, in manufacturing, and as a fuel.

2. Etymology: from Arabic al-kuhl the "powdered antimony", originally, "fine powder", then "essence" and through Medieval Latin.
algebra (s) (noun), algebras (pl)
1. A branch of mathematics in which symbols, usually letters of the alphabet, represent numbers or members of a specified set: In algebra, the letters represent quantities and to express general relationships for all members of the set to solve problems involving finite numbers.
2. Etymology: from Medieval Latin which came from Arabic al jebr or al-jabr, "reunion of broken parts", as in computation, used in the 9th century by Baghdad mathematician Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi as the title of his famous treatise on equation, Kitab al-Jabr w'al-Muqabala, "Rules of Reintegration and Reduction"; which also introduced Arabic numerals to the West.

The accent in pronunciation moved in the 17th century from the second syllable to first syllable. The word was used in English in the 15th century to the 16th century to mean al-, "the" + jabr, "bone-setting, restoration" (from jabara, "to set (bones), to force, to restore"; perhaps from the Arabs in Spain.

algebraic, algebraical (adjective); more algebraic, most algebraic; more algebraical, most algebraical ,
Referring to the branch of mathematics that is concerned with th properties of integers: Algebraic quantities need finite numbers to function.

Algebraic processes are not transcendental.

algorithm (s) (noun), algorithms (pl)
1. A logical step-by-step procedure for solving a mathematical problem in a finite number of steps, often involving repetition of the same basic operation: An algorithm is a group of arranged steps that explain or resolve a mathematical problem.

An algorithm is a logical sequence of steps for solving a problem, often written out as a flow chart, which can be translated into a computer program.
2. A set of rules for solving problems or doing calculations: An algorithmrefers especially to rules that a computer uses.
3. A completely determined and finite procedure for solving a problem; An algorithm is especially used in relation to mathematics and computer science.

An algorithm is a set of ordered steps for solving a problem, such as a mathematical formula or the instructions in a computer program.

The terms algorithm and "logic" are synonymous because both refer to a sequence of steps to solve a problem, however an algorithm implies an expression that solves a complex problem rather than the overall input-process-output logic of typical business programs.

4. Etymology: from the 1690s, or the late 17th century, from French algorithme, an alteration (under mistaken connection with Greek arithmos, "number") from Old French algorisme, "the Arabic numeral system" (13th century), from Middle Latin algorismus, a mistaken transliteration of Arabic al-Khwarizmi, "native of Khwarazm", the surname of the mathematician whose works introduced sophisticated mathematics and algorithms to the West.

The earlier form in Middle English was "algorism" from about the early 13th century, from Old French.

algorithmic (adjective) (not comparable)
A reference to a well-defined procedure to solve a problem: Algorithmic knowledge of is a fundamental area of computer science, and as such, when writing a computer program to solve a problem, a programmer expresses in a computer language an algorithm that solves the problem which turns the algorithm into a computer program.

Arabic (adjective) (not comparable)
.1. Of or relating to Arabia, the Arabs, their language, or their culture: In her book about Arabia, Susan read about the Arabic language and literature. .
2. Pertaining to the alphabetical script used for the writing of Arabic probably since about the fourth century A.D., and adopted with modifications by Persian, Urdu, and many other languages: A distinguishing feature of this Arabic script is the fact that etymologically short vowels are not normally represented.

Two Arabic terms also relate to "Arab" and to "Arabian.

artichoke (s) (noun), artichokes (pl)
1. A thistle-like plant with large prickly leaves and its immature flowering head: The flower bud, also called an artichoke of the plant artichoke is large with parts that can be eaten as a vegetable after cooking.
2. Etymology: from articiocco, Northern Italian variant of Italian arcicioffo, from Old Spanish alcarchofa, which came from Arabic al-hursufa, "artichoke".

The Northern Italian variation probably is from the influence of ciocco, "stump".

Folk etymology has twisted the word in English; the ending is probably influenced by choke, and early forms of the word in English include archecokk, hortichock, artychough, and hartichoake.

The plant was known in Italy by the 1450s, brought to Florence from Naples in 1466, and introduced into England during the reign of Henry VIII.

assassin (s) (noun), assassins (pl)
1. A killer, a murderer: An <(>assassin is especially one who slays a political leader or other public figure.
2. Someone who murders by surprise attack: An assassin can especially be a person who carries out a plot to kill a prominent person.
3. A member of a secret order of Muslim fanatics (founded in the 12th century), active in Persia and Syria from about 1090 to 1272: The primary object of these assassins was to terrorize, and to kill Christian Crusaders.
4. Etymology: in Anglo-Latin from about the mid 13th century, via French and Italian, from Arabic hashsashin, "hashish-users", a plural of hashshash, Arabic for "hashish-eater".

In English, the Arabic plural form was thought to be a singular form which became known as a fanatical Ismaili Muslim sect at the time of the Crusades known to murder opposing leaders after intoxicating themselves by eating or smoking hashish or the drug cannabis.

attar (s) (noun), attars (pl)
1. An essential oil extracted from flowers: The attar from the damask rose petals is used in its pure state or as a base for perfume.
2. Etymology: from Persian 'atar-gul, "essence of roses", from 'atar, "fragrance"; from Arabic 'utur, "perfumes, aromas".
average (s) (noun), averages (pl)
The sum of several quantities divided by the number of quantities: To find out the average of 10, 20, and 24, Mary had to add up the numbers, then divide by 3 which resulted in 18.
ayatollah (s) (noun), ayatollahs (pl)
A kind of Muslin religious leader: An ayatollah is the head of the Shiite religious order of the Muslim religion, and has the duties of a teacher, a judge, and administrator.
Bahai (s) (noun), Bahais (pl)
A follower or an adherent of the Bahá?u'lláh: A Bahá?u'lláh.is a supporter of a religion that was founded in Iran in 1863 by Husayn ?Al? (called Bahaullah).
Bedouin (s) (noun), Bedouins (pl)
A member of nomadic Arab tribes living in the desert: The Bedouins dwell in the desert lands of Arabia, Jordan, Syria, and in parts of the Sahara.