Rahat
/ˈræhæt/noun
A Turkish delight or similar confection, especially in the phrase rahat lokum.
Did you know?Rahat comes from Arabic rāḥat al-ḥulqūm, “comfort of the throat,” the source of the longer Turkish expression rahat lokum, commonly rendered in English as Turkish delight.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*r-w-ḥ
“To breathe, blow, or experience relief; the reconstructed root behind related Semitic words for spirit, wind, and repose.”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
rāḥa
“Rest, ease, relief, or comfort.”
Medieval Arabic
Arabic
rāḥat al-ḥulqūm
“Comfort of the throat; the name of a soft sweet or confection.”
Ottoman Turkish
Turkish
rahat lokum
“A confection associated with comfort of the throat; literally, “throat comfort.””
19th Century
English
rahat
“A borrowed name for Turkish delight or a similar confection.”
Modern English
English
rahat
“A rare English noun for Turkish delight.”