serpantin (Turkish)
Where does "serpantin" come from?
The Turkish word 'serpantin' was borrowed from the French 'serpentine,' which itself originated from the word for snake-like. This linguistic journey reflects the move from the literal description of a winding serpent to the coiled shapes found in paper streamers and industrial heating pipes.
Full etymology tree
- serpantin (Turkish), 'long, thin strip of colored paper which is tightly wound in the shape of a wheel and then unravels when swung'
- borrowed serpentine (French), 'feminine singular of serpentin'
- derived serpentin (Old French)
- borrowed serpentine (French), 'feminine singular of serpentin'
Ancestors
- serpentine (French)
Updated June 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris