Where does “goma-arábica” come from?

goma-arábica (Portuguese) comes from Portuguese goma, from Late Latin gumma, from Latin gummi, from Ancient Greek κόμμι, from Egyptian qmy — anointing oil.

goma-arábica (Portuguese): gum arabic a substance extracted from acacia trees

Definitions

  1. gum arabic a substance extracted from acacia trees

Ancestry of “goma-arábica”, step by step

goma-arábica traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Portuguese goma

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Portuguesegomastarch; gum; home, house
2Late Latingummagum
3LatingummiAlternative form of cummis; gum
4Ancient Greekκόμμιgum, obtained from babul
5Egyptianqmyanointing oil

via Portuguese arábica

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Portuguesearábica
Every word from Egyptian qmy