albatross

The story

1. Latin · derived fromalbus“white”
2. Ancient Greek · derived fromκάδος“pail, jar”
3. Arabic · derived fromالْقَادُوس
4. Portuguese · derived fromalcatruz“water wheel bucket”
5. Arabic · derived fromالْغَطَّاس“the diver”
6. Portuguese · borrowed fromalcatraz“pelican, gannet, albatross”
7. English todayalbatross

Uncertain. Probably from Spanish or Portuguese alcatraz (“pelican, gannet, albatross”), probably derived from Arabic الْغَطَّاس (al-ḡaṭṭās, “the diver”) (compare Alcatraz); or from Portuguese alcatruz (“water wheel bucket”), from Arabic الْقَادُوس (al-qādūs), from Ancient Greek κάδος (kádos, “pail, jar”), in reference to the pouch of a pelican. In either case, altered under the influence of Latin albus (“white”). Not derived from modern Arabic قَطْرَس (qaṭras, “albatross”), which is perhaps borrowed from Spanish. For sense development of "burden", see albatross around one’s neck.

Words from the same roots