Where does “nagellack” come from?

nagellack (Swedish) comes from German lack, from Italian lacca, from Medieval Latin lacca, from Arabic لَكّ, from Persian لاک, from Urdu لاکھ, from Maharastri Prakrit 𑀮𑀓𑁆𑀔, from Sanskrit लक्ष — to protect.

nagellack (Swedish): nail polish

Definitions

  1. nail polish

Ancestry of “nagellack”, step by step

nagellack traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via German lack

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanlackimperative singular of lacken; first-person...
2Italianlaccahole, pit; poplite muscle; thigh
3Medieval Latinlacca
4Arabicلَكّ
5Persianلاکtrough, wooden vessel
6Urduلاکھlakh, lac
7Maharastri Prakrit𑀮𑀓𑁆𑀔
8Sanskritलक्षa mark, sign, token; a mark to aim at, target,...
9Sanskritलक्ष्perceive, observe; recognise; to mark, sign
10Sanskritरक्ष्to protect, guard, watch, take care of, save,...
11Proto-Indo-AryanHrakṣ-
12Proto-Indo-IranianHrakš-
13Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂lek-to protect

via German nagel

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germannagelinflection of nageln: ## first-person singular...
2Middle High GermannagelA nail, pin, peg wooden or metal spike used for fastening
3Old High GermannagalA nail
4Proto-West Germanicnaglnail; nail or peg used for fastening
5Proto-Germanicnaglaznail; nail or peg used for fastening
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃nogʰ-claw, nail; nail

via Swedish lack

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Swedishlacklacquer
2Frenchlacquea sort of sealing wax
3Portugueselacalake; lac
4Persianlâk

Words derived from “nagellack

Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂lek-Every word from Proto-Indo-Iranian Hrakš-Every word from Proto-Indo-Aryan Hrakṣ-