User:Linshee/sandbox/English words of Asian origin

Afroasiatic

Semitic

• camel – ultimately from *gamal- ("camel") via Ancient Greek via Latin via Old French. A beast of burden, much used in desert areas, of the genus Camelus.

Akkadian

• alcarraza – from 𒆳𒍣𒍝𒆪 (kurziza, "basket, container") from Sumerian, via Aramaic via Arabic via Spanish. An earthenware container traditionally made in Spain.
• angary – from 𒂊𒄈𒌅 (egirtu, "inscribed tablet; oracle of fate, ambiguous wording; contract, bound deal"), via Aramaic via Old Persian via Ancient Greek via Late Latin via French . The right of one belligerent (government) in a conflict to seize, use or destroy the property of another belligerent or neutral state, or the private citizens thereof, provided compensation is paid.
• argaman – from 𒅈𒂵𒌋𒌋𒉡 (argamannu, "red purple") via Hebrew. A purple dye.
• camphire – from 𒇒𒌓𒀀 (kupru, "bitumen, pitch") via Hebrew. The henna flower.
• canal – from 𒄀 (qanû, "reed") from Sumerian, via Ancient Greek via Latin via Old French. An artificial waterway or artificially improved river used for travel, shipping, or irrigation.
• cane – see canal. Any of various tall, perennial grasses with flexible, woody stalks
• canna – see canal. Any member of the genus Canna of tropical plants with large leaves and often showy flowers.
• chameleon – from an Ancient Greek calque of 𒌨𒈤𒊭𒆠 (nēšu ša qaqqari, literally "lion of the ground", via Latin via Old French. A small to mid-size reptile, of the family Chamaeleonidae.
• channel – see canal. A type of landform consisting of the outline of a path of relatively shallow and narrow body of fluid, most commonly the confine of a river, river delta or strait.
• chiton – from 𒌆𒃰 (kitû, "flax, linen") from Sumerian, via Central Semitic via Ancient Greek. A loose woolen tunic worn by men and women in Ancient Greece.
• cumin – from 𒂵𒈬𒉡 (kamūnu, "cumin"), via Ancient Greek via Latin via Old French and Old English. A flowering plant in the family Apiaceae, native to southwestern Asia including the Middle East
• heykel – from 𒂍𒃲 (ekallu, "temple, palace") from Sumerian, via Arabic via Persian. The chancel or sanctuary of a Coptic church.
• lamussu – from 𒀭𒆗 (lamassu, "lamassu"). An Assyrian protective deity, often depicted as having the head of a human, the body of an ox or lion, and the wings of a bird.
• saros – from šār ("3,600") via Ancient Greek. A period of exactly 223 synodic months that can be used to predict eclipses of the Sun and Moon.
• sesame – from 𒃻𒈦𒌑𒈬 (šamaššammū, "oil plant"), via Aramaic via Ancient Greek via Latin. A tropical Asian plant bearing small flat seeds used as food and as a source of oil.
• shekel – from 𒂆 (šiqlu) via Hebrew. A currency unit of both ancient and modern Israel.
• simit – from 𒆠𒅔𒆠𒅔𒄯𒄯 (samīdu, "semolina"). A ring-shaped bread roll covered with sesame seeds.
• souq – from 𒋻 (sūqu, "street"), via Aramaic via Arabic. A marketplace or commercial quarter in Western Asian, North African and some Horn African cities.
• tandoor – from 𒋾𒂟 (tinūru, "clay oven"), via Persian via Hindustani. A cylindrical clay or metal oven used in cooking and baking.
• ziggurat – from 𒅆𒂍𒉪 (ziqqurratu, "ziggurat"). A type of massive structure built in ancient Mesopotamia.

Arabic

Main article: List of English words of Arabic origin

• abra – from Gulf Arabic عَبْرَة (ʿabra). A wooden boat used as a ferry in Dubai.
• labneh – from South Levantine Arabic لَبْنَةcode: ajp is deprecated (labna). A type of strained yogurt in the Levant, Egypt and the Arabian peninsula.

Ainu

• kamuy – from カムィ (kamuy, "deity"). A spiritual or divine being in Ainu mythology.
• shishamo – from スサㇺ (susam) via Japanese. A smelt fish native to the Pacific Northwest region of North America and Hokkaido, Japan.

Austroasiatic

Khmer

• kak – from កាក់ (kak) from Min Nan. A former currency unit of Cambodia, one hundredth of a riel.
• kouprey – from គោព្រៃ (kooprɨy). A forest-dwelling, wild bovine species from Southeast Asia.
• krama – from ក្រមា (krɑmiə). A traditional Cambodian garment with many uses, including as a scarf or bandana or to carry children.
• kroeung – from គ្រឿង (krɨəng, "spice, seasoning"). Any of various pastes of herbs and spices used as a base for many Khmer dishes.
• norry – from ណូរី (nourii). An improvised rail vehicle from Cambodia; a bamboo train.
• prahok – from ប្រហុក (prɑhok). A salted and fermented fish paste used in Cambodian cuisine.
• riel – from រៀល (riəl), likely from Portuguese. The currency of Cambodia.
• roneat thung – from រនាតធុង (rɔɔniətthung). A low-pitched xylophone used in the Khmer classical music of Cambodia.

Vietnamese

• ao dai – from áo dài (literally, "long outfit"). A two panelled dress, worn by Vietnamese women as a national costume.
• banh mi – from bánh mì ("bread; sandwich"). A type of baguette which is often split lengthwise and filled with various savory ingredients as a sandwich and served as a meal.
• banh xeo – from bánh xèo (literally, "sizzling cake"). A Vietnamese savory fried pancake made of rice flour, water, and turmeric powder.
• basa – from cá ba sa. A species of catfish native to the Mekong and Chao Phraya basins in Southeast Asia.
• chao tom – from chạo tôm. A traditional Vietnamese dish of shrimp surimi grilled on a sugar-cane stick.
• chu nom – from chữ Nôm (literally, "southern characters"). A logographic writing system formerly used to write the Vietnamese language.
• dan bau – from đàn bầu (literally, "gourd stringed instrument"). A type of monochord zither.
• dan day – from đàn đáy (literally, "back stringed instrument"). A type of lute with three strings.
• dan nguyet – from đàn nguyệt (literally, "moon stringed instrument"). A type lute with two strings.
• dan nhi – from đàn nhị (literally, "two stringed instrument"). A vertical bowed fiddle-like instrument with two strings.
• dan tranh – from đàn tranh (literally, "zither stringed instrument"). A small plucked zither with movable bridges.
• dan ty ba – from đàn tì bà (literally, "pipa stringed instrument"). A plucked four-stringed chordophone.
• di di mau – from đi đi mau ("get lost!"). American military slang from the Vientam War. To leave quickly, hurry away.
• doi moi – from đổi mới ("reform"). A program of political and economic reforms initiated in Vietnam in 1986.
• dong – from đồng ("copper; currency; dong") from Chinese. The currency of Vietnam.
• gac – from gấc. A type of perennial melon grown throughout Southeast Asia and Queensland, Australia.
• hao – from hào, from Chinese. A former currency unit of Vietnam, one tenth of a dong.
• lolot – from lá lốt. A leaf which is used in Lao and Vietnamese cuisine as a flavoring wrap for grilling meats.
• nuoc mam – from nước mắm ("salted fish sauce"). A fish sauce used in Vietnamese cookery.
• pho – from phở, from Chinese. A Vietnamese soup with a beef base, typically served with rice noodles and beef or chicken.
• quoc ngu – from quốc ngữ (literally, "national language"), from Chinese. The romanized writing system used to write Vietnamese.
• saola – from sao la, probably from Lao. A forest-dwelling bovine found only in the Annamite Range of Vietnam and Laos.
• xu – from xu, from French. A former currency unit of Vietnam, one hundredth of a dong.
• yem – from yếm. A Vietnamese form of underbodice.

Austronesian

Malayo-Polynesian

• colugo – from some Malayo-Polynesian language. An arboreal gliding mammal found in Southeast Asia.

Philippine

• abaca – from Tagalog abaká via Spanish. A species of banana native to the Philippines.
• abilo – from Tagalog abilo. A Philippine fruit tree of the Garuga genus.
• adlay – from Cebuano adlay. A tall grain-bearing perennial tropical plant native to Southeast Asia.
• albularyo – from Tagalog albularyo, from Spanish herbolario ("herbalist"). A Filipino faith healer or witch doctor.
• alintatao – from Tagalog. A tree in the family Ebenaceae.
• amatong – from Cebuano amatong. A type of fish trap made by piling rocks underwater.
• ampalaya – from Tagalog ampalaya. Bitter melon.
• anting-anting – from Hiligaynon antíng-ánting. A Filipino amulet or talisman.
• arnis – from Tagalog arnis, from Spanish arnés ("set of weapons or armor"). The national martial art of the Philippines.
• Azkal – from Tagalog askal ("street dog"). A member of the Philippines national football team.
• baclad – from Cebuano baklad. A fish corral.
• bakwit – from Cebuano bakwit, itself from English evacuate. An evacuee.
• balikbayan – from Tagalog balikbayan. A Filipino returning to the Philippines after spending time in another country.
• balimbing – from Tagalog balimbing ("carambola; sideburns; traitor"). A turncoat.
• balinghoy – from Tagalog balinghoy. Cassava.
• balisong – popularly believed to be from Tagalog baling sungay ("broken horn"), for the original material. A butterfly knife.
• baon – from Tagalog baon. Money, food, or other provisions taken to school, work, or on a journey.
• barangay – from Tagalog barangay. The smallest local government unit in the Philippines, a subdivision of a city or municipality.
• barkada – from Tagalog barkada, from Spanish barcada ("boatload"). A group of friends.
• baro't saya – from Tagalog. A traditional Philippine costume comprising a blouse and long skirt.
• batchoy – from Hiligaynon batsoy, from Hokkien. A noodle soup made with pork offal.
• bauno – from Cebuano bayuno. A wild mango found in the Philippines.
• bayag-kambing – from Tagalog bayag-kambing. Nickernuts; the seeds of Caesalpinia crista.
• bayanihan – from Tagalog bayanihan. Mutual cooperation for the public good.
• bibingka – from Cebuano bibingka. A rice cake made using rice flour, sugar and coconut milk and wrapped in banana leaves.
• bignay – from Tagalog bignay. A tree from the Philippines, which bears small, edible fruit in clusters.
• binagoongan – from Tagalog binagoongan. A sautéed pork dish of the Philippines, flavoured with shrimp paste.
• bisrock – from Cebuano bisrock, a blend of Bisaya ("Cebuano language") + English rock. Rock and pop music with lyrics primarily in Cebuano.
• bitaog – from Cebuano bitaog. A large evergreen plant native to tropical Asia and Wallacea.
• bringhouse – from Cebuano bringhouse, a pseudo-Anglicization. Take-home leftover food.
• boondocks – from Tagalog bundok ("mountain"). A brushy rural area or location.
• bukayo – from Cebuano bukayo. A Filipino dessert made from sweetened coconut strips.
• buko – from Tagalog buko. A coconut.
• budbod – from Cebuano budbod. A dish made of glutinous rice rolled in banana leaves.
• buyo – from Tagalog buyo. Betel.
• calachuchi – from Tagalog kalatsutsi
• calamondin – from Kapampangan kalamunding. A small decorative evergreen citrus tree.
• camagon – from Cebuano kamagong via Spanish. A type of persimmon tree native to the Philippines.
• camia – from Cebuano camia. A perennial flowering plant in the ginger family native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeastern Asia.
• capiz – from Cebuano kapis. The shell of the windowpane oyster, used in window panes and jewelry.
• caycay – from Cebuano caycay. A layered biscuit rolled in toasted peanuts and honey or sugar syrup.
• cogon – from Tagalog and Cebuano kugon. A species of perennial rhizomatous grass native to tropical and subtropical Asia, Micronesia, Melanesia, Australia, Africa, and southern Europe.
• computer shop – from a mistranslation of Tagalog and Cebuano komyuteran ("internet café", literally "computer place"). An internet café.
• dao – from Tagalog and Cebuano dao. A large tropical canopy tree native to tropical Asia.
• dapdap – from Cebuano dapdap. A tree native to the tropical and subtropical regions of eastern Africa, the Indian subcontinent, northern Australia, and the islands of the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean east to Fiji.
• dugong – from Cebuano dugong. A plant-eating aquatic marine mammal found in tropical regions.
• fresh lumpia – from Cebuano fresh lumpia. A type Filipino of spring roll.
• gabi – from Cebuano gabi. Taro, or food made from it.
• ganta – from Cebuano gantang via Spanish. A historical unit of volume, equal to eight chupas.
• girl rented overnight – a backronym of GRO; rented is a translation of Cebuano abang ("to rent; to hire a prostitute"). A bargirl.
• gunner – from Cebuano gunner, a play on words from English shot (measure of alcohol): a person doing a shot is a shooter, or "gunner". The person designated to pour drinks in a drinking session.
• habal-habal – from Cebuano habalhabal. A motorcycle taxi.
• hilot – from Cebuano hilot. A traditional healing practice involving chiropractic manipulation and massage.
• ipil – from Cebuano ipil. A species of flowering tree in the pea family native to the Indo-Pacific.
• kagwang – from Cebuano kagwang. The Philippine flying lemur.
• katmon – from Cebuano katmon. A tree endemic to the Philippines often used in gardens and urban green spaces.
• kinilaw – from Cebuano kinilaw. A Filipino ceviche dish.
• kudyapi – from Hiligaynon and Cebuano kudyapi. A boat-shaped lute.
• lagtay – from Cebuano lagtang. A Southeast Asian and Indian climbing plant.
• lumbayao – from Cebuano lumbayaw. A Philippine timber tree; also, its wood, sold as "Philippine mahogany".
• macapuno – from Tagalog and Cebuano makapuno. A naturally occurring coconut cultivar.
• marang – from Cebuano marang. An evergreen tree bearing a strong smelling fruit with a creamy pulp.
• marjoret – from Cebuano mardyoret, itself from English majorette. A majorette.
• nangka – from Cebuano nangka. Jackfruit.
• paltik – from Cebuano paltik. A homemade gun, often made of scrap metal.
• patican – from Cebuano patikan. Philippine fishtail palm (Caryota cumingii).
• payao – from Cebuano payaw. A raft used to attract and catch fish in Southeast Asia.
• pechay – from Tagalog and Cebuano pechay, from Hokkien. Chinese cabbage.
• piyag – from Cebuano payag. A small crude shelter.
• puso – from Cebuano puso. A Filipino rice cake.
• rugby – from Cebuano rugby, from English Rugby, a brand of rubber cement. Rubber cement.
• rugby boy – from Cebuano rugby boy. A boy who is addicted to the inhalation of rubber cement.
• saba – from Cebuano saba. A banana cultivar from the Philippines.
• sacayan – from Cebuano sakayan. A small wooden trimaran used as a transport and fishing boat in the Philippines.
• salacot – from Cebuano salakot. A pith helmet.
• santilmo – from Cebuano santilmo, from Spanish fuego de San Telmo ("St. Elmo's fire"). In Filipino folklore, a floating flame or fire ball, similar to a will o' the wisp, that stalk or chase people at night, believed to be the ignited blood of a person who met a tragic death.
• sigbin – from Cebuano sigbin. A creature of Filipino mythology, resembling a hornless goat, said to come out at night to suck the blood of victims from their shadows.
• sisig – from Kapampangan. A Kapampangan dish made from parts of pig head and chicken liver.
• skylab – from Cebuano skylab, from Skylab, because the resemblance to the space station. A motorcycle taxi with extension seats on the sides, configured by placing a wooden beam across the pillion.
• tablea – from Cebuano tabliya, from Spanish tablilla ("tablet"). Ground cocoa shaped into a disc; used mainly for making sikwate.
• tabon – from Cebuano tabon. The Philippine megapode, a bird.
• tabon-tabon – from Cebuano tabontabon. A fruit used to make kinilaw.
• tartanilla – from Cebuano tartanilya, from Spanish tartana, from Occitan. A two-wheeled horse-drawn carriage used in the Philippines.
• trainor – from Cebuano trainor, itself from English trainer. A coach or trainer.
• tuba – from Cebuano tuba. A Filipino palm wine.
• tubog – from Cebuano tubog. A species of fig tree found near water in low altitudes, native to the Philippines.
• tuhon – from Cebuano tuon ("to study"). A Filipino martial arts instructor.
• waling-waling – from Cebuano walingwaling. A species of orchids endemic to Mindanao, Philippines.
• yakal – from Cebuano yakal. A tree endemic to the Philippines, or its wood.
• yo-yo – probably from Ilocano yoyo. A toy resembling a spool.