sesame

The story

1. Greek · derived fromσησάμη
2. Akkadian · derived from𒊭𒈦𒌑𒈬“oil plant”
3. Aramaic · derived fromשושמא
4. Ancient Greek · derived fromσήσαμον
5. Latin · derived fromsīsamum
6. Middle English · inherited fromsisamie
7. English todaysesame

From late Middle English sisamie, from Latin sīsamum, sēsamum, from Ancient Greek σήσαμον (sḗsamon), from Aramaic שושמא (šūššmā), shortening of שומשומא (šumššumā), from Akkadian 𒊭𒈦𒌑𒈬 (šamaššammū, “oil plant”), compound of 𒉌𒄑 (šaman, “oil”) and 𒌑 (šammum, “plant”). The modern pronunciation is perhaps influenced by (transliterations of) Greek σησάμη (sisámi). Doublet of sesamum.