Mahom
/ˈmeɪ.hɒm/noun
An obsolete English form of the name Muhammad, especially in medieval European writing.
Did you know?Medieval writers often distorted Muhammad’s name into forms such as Mahom, Mahum, and Mahound, with “Mahound” eventually becoming a fictional pagan idol or demonic figure in European literature.
Etymological Timeline
7th Century
Arabic
Muḥammad
“The praised one; a name formed from the Semitic root ḥ-m-d, “to praise.””
8th–12th Century
Medieval Latin
Machometus
“A Latin rendering of the name Muhammad in Christian and historical texts.”
11th–13th Century
Old French
Mahom / Mahum
“French medieval forms of Muhammad’s name, transmitted through Latin and vernacular usage.”
13th–15th Century
Middle English
Mahom
“An English medieval spelling for Muhammad, often appearing in religious, polemical, or legendary contexts.”
Late Middle Ages
Middle English
Mahoun
“A related distorted form that could refer not only to Muhammad but, in romance literature, to a supposed pagan idol.”
Modern English
English
Mahom
“An obsolete historical form of Muhammad’s name, now encountered mainly in medieval studies and literary texts.”