4 ms·
Thought the use of the word "lake" here was interesting. (Of course, not the same as a lake you can swim in): From French laque (“lacquer”), from Persian لاک
by nielsbot 3y ago
Thought the use of the word "lake" here was interesting. (Of course, not the same as a lake you can swim in):
From French laque (“lacquer”), from Persian لاک (lâk), from Hindi लाख (lākh), from Sanskrit लक्ष (lakṣa, “one hundred thousand”), referring to the number of insects that gather on the trees and make the resin seep out. Doublet of lakh, lac and lacquer.
(https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/lake#Etymology_4 https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/lake#Etymology_4)
- semi-extrinsic 3y agoIn Lower German, Norwegian and Swedish (at least), "lake" means "brine", as in pickling liquid. E.g. "saltlake" means specifically a brine that has a lot of salt. And this again comes from "lake" as in "body of water". Curious if the etymology that lake is coming via the French "lacquer" is actually the correct one, when the alternative that is coming from proto-Germanic "laki" is much closer to the actual chemical composition and way of preparation of the dye lake?