Alhenna
/ælˈhɛnə/noun
A name for the henna plant, Lawsonia inermis, whose leaves yield a reddish-orange dye.
Did you know?Henna’s use as a body dye is ancient, with evidence of henna or related plant dyes in Egyptian cosmetic and funerary traditions.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Arabic
Arabic
al-ḥinnāʾ
“the henna plant; al- means “the,” while ḥinnāʾ names the dye plant”
Medieval Arabic
Arabic
ḥinnāʾ
“henna, especially its fragrant leaves and reddish dye”
Medieval Latin and Romance
Latin/Romance
alcanna
“a borrowed name for henna and related red-dye plants”
16th–17th Century
English
alhenna
“a name for the henna plant”
Modern English
English
alhenna
“an archaic or variant term for henna, Lawsonia inermis”