Aloe
/ˈæl.oʊ/noun
A succulent plant genus, especially one with thick leaves containing a soothing gel.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from a very old Semitic source, and aloe was prized in antiquity not just as a skin remedy but as a fragrant burial substance in the ancient world.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Semitic
*ʔalwē / *allū
“A bitter, medicinal plant or resinous substance”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἀλόη (alóē)
“Aloe; also a bitter, aromatic medicinal plant”
Latin
Latin
aloe
“Aloe; the medicinal plant and its bitter juice”
Old French
Old French
aloe
“Aloe”
Middle English
English
aloes
“Aloe; especially the bitter medicinal juice”