soya
UK[ˈsɔɪə]US[ˈsɔɪə]
n
A type of bean, originally from Asia, that is used to make various foods including oil, flour, and a milk-like liquid.
Etymology
The word 'soya' entered the English language in the late 17th century via the Dutch 'soja', which was borrowed from the Japanese 'shōyu' (醤油). 'Shōyu' is a compound in Japanese, formed from 'shō' (a term for a type of fermented paste) and 'yu' (oil or sauce), but this internal structure is not preserved in the English form. The English spelling 'soya' reflects a phonetic adaptation of the Dutch/Japanese term. Over time, its meaning narrowed in English from referring to the sauce to primarily denoting the bean from which the sauce and other products are made.
Analysis
The word 'soya' is a simplex loanword. It is derived from the Japanese word 'shōyu', meaning soy sauce, which itself originates from the Chinese 'jiang you'.
Examples
Soya milk is a popular alternative to dairy.
The field was planted with soya.
Many processed foods contain soya lecithin.