Where does “Siamese” come from?
Siamese derives from English Siam, from Portuguese Sciam, from Thai สยาม, with an -ensis suffix added in Latin.
Siamese (English): Of, or relating to Siam; Thai; Of a connection of...
Definitions
- Of, or relating to Siam; Thai; Of a connection of...
Ancestry of “Siamese”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | siam | get lost! |
| 2 | Portuguese | Sciam | Thailand |
| 3 | Thai | สยาม | Siam, historical name |
| 4 | Pali | suvaṇṇabhūmi | land of gold; a name for a country in Southeast... |
| 5 | Pali | suvaṇṇa | gold; beautiful |
| 6 | Sanskrit | सुवर्ण | of a good or beautiful colour, brilliant in hue,... |
| 7 | Sanskrit | वर्ण | outward appearance, exterior, figure, form,... |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-Iranian | wárnas | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | wēr- | true |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | wer- | to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel |