sesame
UK[ˈsɛsəmi]US[ˈsɛsəmi]
n
A tall annual herbaceous plant of tropical and subtropical regions, cultivated for its oil-rich seeds.
n
The small oval seeds of the sesame plant, used as food and as a source of oil.
Etymology
The journey of 'sesame' is a story of ancient cultural exchange. The word originates from the Akkadian term 'šamaššammū', meaning "oil plant," which traveled into other Semitic languages like Arabic ('simsim') and Hebrew ('shumshum'). It was then borrowed into Greek as 'sēsamon' and into Latin as 'sesamum', referring specifically to the valuable seed. English acquired the word in the 15th century via these classical languages, carrying with it the exoticism of a prized import from the East. Its most famous modern invocation, "open sesame," from the Arabian Nights, cemented its association with hidden treasure and magical access.
Analysis
The word 'sesame' is a simplex loanword. It entered English as a whole unit from Latin 'sesamum' and Greek 'sēsamon', which themselves were borrowed from an ancient Semitic source (e.g., Akkadian 'šamaššammū', Arabic 'simsim'). Its structure is not productively analyzable using English morphemes.
Examples
The bagel was topped with toasted sesame seeds.
Sesame oil is commonly used in Asian cuisine for its distinctive nutty flavor.
The old tale featured the magical phrase "open sesame" to unlock the cave's entrance.