wajiha

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Let’s look at the Proto-Indo-European word neogw, which meant unclothed. In the German languages (of which English is one) neogw became naked. In the Latin languages neogw became nude. But a funny thing happened in Persia to do with cookery. You see, the ancient Persians cooked their meat by burying it in hot ashes. However, they baked their bread uncovered in an oven. They still used the PIE neogw, and therefore called their bread nan. Nan was taken into Hindi as naan, and if you go into an Indian restaurant today you can still buy a lovely, puffy sort of bread called naan, and it’s ...more
The Etymologicon: A Circular Stroll Through the Hidden Connections of the English Language
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