Hilal
/hɪˈlɑːl/noun
A crescent moon, especially the new moon marking the beginning of an Islamic lunar month.
Did you know?The crescent-and-star became strongly associated with Islam largely through later Ottoman usage, rather than originating as an original symbol of the earliest Muslim community.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic (reconstructed)
Proto-Semitic
*h-l-l
“A reconstructed Semitic root associated with appearing, shining, or the new moon; the exact semantic development is debated.”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
هِلَال (hilāl)
“The newly visible crescent moon, especially at the beginning of a lunar month.”
7th Century onward
Arabic
hilāl
“The lunar crescent used in determining the beginning of Islamic months, including Ramadan.”
Medieval Period
Persian and Turkish
hilāl / hilâl
“Crescent; a poetic, religious, and emblematic image across Islamic cultures.”
19th Century onward
English
hilal
“A crescent moon or crescent emblem, used especially in Islamic, Middle Eastern, and South Asian contexts.”