Hennah
/ˈhɛnə/noun
A variant spelling of henna, the reddish-brown dye made from the leaves of the henna plant and used for hair and body decoration.
Did you know?Henna body decoration, often called mehndi, has been used across North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia for ceremonies, protection, and adornment for centuries.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Egyptian period
Egyptian
hene
“A term associated with the henna plant or its dye; the exact ancient linguistic relationship is debated.”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
ḥinnāʾ
“Henna, the flowering shrub whose leaves produce a reddish dye.”
Medieval Persian and Arabic usage
Persian/Arabic
ḥenā / ḥinnāʾ
“Henna used as a cosmetic and dye for hair, skin, and nails.”
17th–18th Century
English
henna
“The plant or its reddish dye, borrowed into English through contact with Arabic and related languages.”
Modern English
English
hennah
“An established variant spelling of henna.”
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