Etymology

lilac

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Today it means: A large shrub of the genus Syringa, especially Syringa vulgaris, bearing white, pale-pink, or purple flowers. Full definition →

French lilac ← Arabic لِيلَك (līlak) ← Classical Persian لِیلَک (līlak)
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lilac · noun, adjective1

  1. Proto-Indo-European*neyH-der.?
  2. Sanskritनील॑ (nī́la)
  3. Middle Persian𐭭𐭩𐭫 (nīl)
  4. Classical Persianنِیل (nīl)
  5. Middle Persian𐭪 (k /⁠-ak⁠/)
  6. Classical Persianـَک (-ak)
  7. Classical Persianلِیلَک (līlak)
  8. Arabicلِيلَك (līlak)
  9. Frenchlilac
  10. English todaylilac

From obsolete French lilac (now lilas), from Arabic لِيلَك (līlak).

Lilac · proper noun2

From lilac.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.