The journey of 'talcum' into English is a story of linguistic transmission through trade and science. It entered the language in the mid-16th century via Medieval Latin, which had adopted the Arabic term 'ṭalq'. This Arabic word, in turn, can be traced to Persian 'talq', referring generally to a lustrous mineral. The modern, specific application to the soft, hydrous magnesium silicate mineral we know today was solidified by scientific classification. Thus, the word's meaning evolved from a broad ancient term for a shiny substance to the precise, modern designation for the powder-producing mineral.

The word 'talcum' is a simplex loanword. It is a direct borrowing of the Medieval Latin word 'talcum', which itself was derived from the Arabic word 'ṭalq'. The Arabic term likely originated from the Persian word 'talq', meaning mica or a pure, shiny mineral.