sesame English · revision 887

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈsɛsəmi/, /ˈsɛzəmi/ ''(UK)''; /ˈsɛsəmi/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|sisamie]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) [[bor|la|sēsamum]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|grc|σήσαμον|tr=sḗsamon]], also ''sēsámē'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) of Semitic origin,^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate) probably borrowed through Phoenician from Late Babylonian ''*šawaš-šammu'' (compare Akkadian ''šamaššammū'' “sesame”, literally “oil-seed”).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The East Indian plant whose seeds yield oil, or its seeds (c. 1425 in Barnhart; c. 1440 in the OED).^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Earlier English forms were ''sesam'' and ''sisamie''.^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) The modern three-syllable form spread after ''open sesame'' became known from the tale of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, as translated from Galland's French version of the ''Thousand and One Nights'' (1722–85),^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995) in which the words magically open the thieves' cave.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) ''Open sesame'' has been used figuratively for any means of gaining admission or success since the late 18th century.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1425 – the plant and seed.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1601 – ''sesame oil'', ''sesame seed''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1722 – ''open sesame'' in a translation of the ''Arabian Nights''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1790s – ''open sesame'' used figuratively.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A tropical Asian plant, ''Sesamum indicum'', bearing small flat seeds used as food and as a source of oil.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The seed of this plant, used to flavour bread and other foods.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''[[open sesame]]'' A means of gaining access or achieving an aim.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[open sesame]]

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+ ==Related words==

+ * [[tahini]]

+ * [[benne]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}