Henna
/ˈhɛn.ə/noun
A reddish-brown dye made from the leaves of the henna plant, traditionally used for coloring hair, skin, and textiles.
Did you know?Henna has been used for thousands of years in wedding and ceremonial traditions across North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia, although claims that it universally wards off evil are culturally specific rather than a single ancient doctrine.
Etymological Timeline
Medieval Arabic
Arabic
ḥinnāʾ (حِنَّاء)
“The henna plant or its dye; the immediate source of the English word.”
Medieval Iberia
Andalusi Arabic
al-ḥinnāʾ
“Henna, with the Arabic definite article al-; this form helped produce related European names.”
13th–15th Century
Old Spanish
alfeña / alheña
“Henna, especially as a cosmetic or dye; a Romance development from Arabic al-ḥinnāʾ.”
16th Century
Botanical Latin
Lawsonia inermis
“The scientific name later assigned to the henna shrub, honoring naturalist Isaac Lawson.”
17th Century
English
henna
“The plant and its reddish dye, borrowed from Arabic ḥinnāʾ.”
Modern English
English
henna
“A natural dye used especially for temporary skin decoration, hair coloring, and textiles.”