English Words that have originated from Tamil

Here is a list of 100+ words that have some root in Tamil language

machila	a hammock slung on a pole used for carrying passengers in many parts of Africa	Portuguese, perhaps from Tamil macil, mañcil stage in a journey, from Hindi manzil, from Arabic
mamoty	a hand tool used for digging and cultivating in southeastern Asia	Tamil mammaṭṭi, alteration of maṇ-veṭṭi, from maṇ earth + veṭṭi spade
sandalwood	the compact close-grained fragrant yellowish heartwood of a parasitic tree (Santalum album of the family Santalaceae, the sandalwood family) of southern Asia much used in ornamental carving and cabinetwork	sandal sandalwood (from Middle English, from Anglo-French sandali, from Medieval Latin sandalum, from Late Greek santalon, ultimately from Sanskrit candana, of Dravidian origin; akin to Tamil cāntu sandalwood tree) + wood entry 1
Gurmukhi	the alphabet that the sacred texts of the Sikhs in whatever language are written in and that is also used by the Sikhs in secular writing in Panjabi	Panjabi gurmukhī, literally, from the mouth of the teacher, from Sanskrit guru teacher + mukha mouth (probably of Dravidian origin & akin to Tamil mukam); from the tradition that it was invented by the guru Angad in the 16th century
Moringuidae	a family of eels comprising the very slender wormlike whip eels	New Latin, from Moringua, type genus (perhaps from Tamil malaṅku eel) + -idae
korakan	ragi	Tamil kurakkaṉ, from Sinhalese kurakkan ragi
Ilava	a large caste of cultivators in southern India	Tamil & Malayalam ir̤avan
Ilavan	a large caste of cultivators in southern India	Tamil & Malayalam ir̤avan
Vellala	a member of a Tamil caste of the highest Sudra rank whose members are numerous in Madras and consist chiefly of landowners and cultivators	Tamil veḷḷāḷan
alvar	the plant community consisting typically of mosses and calciphilous herbaceous plants that grows on steppelike shallow alkaline soils overlying Scandinavian limestones	Swedish ålvar Noun (2)                 Tamil Ār̤vār, from ār̤- to sink, be immersed in meditation
Paraiyan	a member of the pariah caste	Tamil paṟaiyan
agarwood	the soft, dark heartwood that is produced by any of various southeast Asian evergreen trees (genus Aquilaria, especially A. malaccensis synonym A. agallocha) when they become infected with a fungus and that contains a fragrant resin used chiefly to produce incense, perfumes, and traditional medicines                                                                With prices for noncultivated agarwood rising to $10,000 a kilo, few local shopkeepers welcome mere browsers.— Jennifer Gampell — called also aloes,  aloeswood,  eaglewood	agar- (borrowed from Hindi agar the tree Aquilaria malaccensis or its wood," going back to Sanskrit aguruḥ, agaruḥ, probably borrowed from a Dravidian source—whence Tamil & Malayalam akil, name for Aquilaria malaccensis) + wood entry 1"
Nagari	devanagari	Sanskrit nāgarī, literally, (writing) of the city, from nagara city, of Dravidian origin; akin to Tamil nakar dwelling, city, Telugu nagaru palace
agalloch	agarwood	borrowed from Greek agálachon, agállochon (Dioscorides), borrowed by uncertain mediation from an Indo-Aryan source akin to Sanskrit aguruḥ, agaruḥ, probably borrowed from a Dravidian source (whence Tamil & Malayalam akil, name for Aquilaria malaccensis)
agallochum	agarwood	borrowed from Greek agálachon, agállochon (Dioscorides), borrowed by uncertain mediation from an Indo-Aryan source akin to Sanskrit aguruḥ, agaruḥ, probably borrowed from a Dravidian source (whence Tamil & Malayalam akil, name for Aquilaria malaccensis)
agilawood	agarwood	Portuguese aguila (borrowed from Tamil akil) + wood entry 2
angelim	any of several chiefly tropical American trees of the genus Andira	Portuguese angelim, from Tamil anjilī-maram, anjalī-maram
angelin	any of several chiefly tropical American trees of the genus Andira	Portuguese angelim, from Tamil anjilī-maram, anjalī-maram
banyan	a large fig tree (Ficus benghalensis) native to India and Pakistan that starts as an epiphyte and has spreading branches which send out aerial roots that grow down to the ground and form secondary trunks around the host tree                                                                 The banyan kills the host tree by preventing its trunk from growing. After the host dies, the banyan continues to grow. Eventually, one tree appears to be an entire forest. — National Geographic World	earlier banyan Gujarati trader, from Portuguese banean, probably from Tamil vāniyan trader, from Sanskrit vāṇija; from a tree of the species in Iran under which such traders conducted business
anicut	a dam made in a stream for maintaining and regulating irrigation	Tamil aṇaikkaṭṭu, from aṇai dam + kaṭṭu building, structure
banyans	a large fig tree (Ficus benghalensis) native to India and Pakistan that starts as an epiphyte and has spreading branches which send out aerial roots that grow down to the ground and form secondary trunks around the host tree                                                                The banyan kills the host tree by preventing its trunk from growing. After the host dies, the banyan continues to grow. Eventually, one tree appears to be an entire forest. — National Geographic World	earlier banyan Gujarati trader, from Portuguese banean, probably from Tamil vāniyan trader, from Sanskrit vāṇija; from a tree of the species in Iran under which such traders conducted business
cash	ready money	modification of Middle French or Old Italian; Middle French casse money box, from Old Italian cassa, from Latin capsa chest  — more at case Noun (2)                 Portuguese caixa, from Tamil kācu, a small copper coin, from Sanskrit karṣa, a weight of gold or silver
betel	a climbing pepper (Piper betle) of southeastern Asia whose leaves are chewed together with betel nut and mineral lime as a stimulant masticatory	Portuguese bétele, from Tamil veṟṟilai
candareen	a Chinese unit of weight equivalent to ¹/₁₀₀ tael	Malay kĕndĕri, from Tamil kunri Indian licorice (Abrus precatorius); from the use of its berries as weights
candarin	a Chinese unit of weight equivalent to ¹/₁₀₀ tael	Malay kĕndĕri, from Tamil kunri Indian licorice (Abrus precatorius); from the use of its berries as weights
cashing	ready money	modification of Middle French or Old Italian; Middle French casse money box, from Old Italian cassa, from Latin capsa chest  — more at case Noun (2)                 Portuguese caixa, from Tamil kācu, a small copper coin, from Sanskrit karṣa, a weight of gold or silver
cashed	ready money	modification of Middle French or Old Italian; Middle French casse money box, from Old Italian cassa, from Latin capsa chest  — more at case Noun (2)                 Portuguese caixa, from Tamil kācu, a small copper coin, from Sanskrit karṣa, a weight of gold or silver
cashes	ready money	modification of Middle French or Old Italian; Middle French casse money box, from Old Italian cassa, from Latin capsa chest  — more at case Noun (2)                 Portuguese caixa, from Tamil kācu, a small copper coin, from Sanskrit karṣa, a weight of gold or silver
cashable	ready money	modification of Middle French or Old Italian; Middle French casse money box, from Old Italian cassa, from Latin capsa chest  — more at case Noun (2)                 Portuguese caixa, from Tamil kācu, a small copper coin, from Sanskrit karṣa, a weight of gold or silver
catechu	any of several dry, earthy, or resinous astringent substances obtained from tropical plants of Asiasuch as	probably modification of Malay kachu, of Dravidian origin; akin to Tamil & Kannada kācu catechu
catamaran	a vessel (such as a sailboat) with twin hulls and usually a deck or superstructure connecting the hulls	Tamil kaṭṭumaram, from kaṭṭu to tie + maram tree, wood
chay	the root of an East Indian herb (Oldenlandia umbellata) that yields a red dye	Tamil-Malayalam cāya-vēr, perhaps from Sanskrit chāyā color, shadow            Noun (2)                 back-formation from chaise, taken as plural
chaya	the root of an East Indian herb (Oldenlandia umbellata) that yields a red dye	Tamil-Malayalam cāya-vēr, perhaps from Sanskrit chāyā color, shadow            Noun (2)                 back-formation from chaise, taken as plural
chelinga	a boat of light draft pointed at both ends and used on the Coromandel coast	Tamil calaṅku, perhaps from Sanskrit jalaṁga water-going, from jalaṁ (nominative & accusative of jala water) + -ga (akin to gam to go, come)
chelingo	a boat of light draft pointed at both ends and used on the Coromandel coast	Tamil calaṅku, perhaps from Sanskrit jalaṁga water-going, from jalaṁ (nominative & accusative of jala water) + -ga (akin to gam to go, come)
cholam	grain sorghum	Tamil cōḷam
cheroot	a cigar cut square at both ends	Tamil curuṭṭu, literally, roll
chettie	a member of a caste of Tamil moneylenders or merchants in southern India, Ceylon, Burma, Malaya, Fiji, and South Africa	Tamil-Malayalam ceṭṭi, from Sanskrit śreṣṭhin
chetties	a member of a caste of Tamil moneylenders or merchants in southern India, Ceylon, Burma, Malaya, Fiji, and South Africa	Tamil-Malayalam ceṭṭi, from Sanskrit śreṣṭhin
chettis	a member of a caste of Tamil moneylenders or merchants in southern India, Ceylon, Burma, Malaya, Fiji, and South Africa	Tamil-Malayalam ceṭṭi, from Sanskrit śreṣṭhin
chetty	a member of a caste of Tamil moneylenders or merchants in southern India, Ceylon, Burma, Malaya, Fiji, and South Africa	Tamil-Malayalam ceṭṭi, from Sanskrit śreṣṭhin
chettyars	a member of a caste of Tamil moneylenders or merchants in southern India, Ceylon, Burma, Malaya, Fiji, and South Africa	Tamil-Malayalam ceṭṭi, from Sanskrit śreṣṭhin
choli	a short-sleeved bodice with a very low neckline worn especially in India	Hindi colī, from Sanskrit cola, coḍa, probably of Dravidian origin; akin to Tamil coli bark, Malayalam toli
choya	the root of an East Indian herb (Oldenlandia umbellata) that yields a red dye	Tamil-Malayalam cāya-vēr, perhaps from Sanskrit chāyā color, shadow            Noun (2)                 back-formation from chaise, taken as plural
choultry	inn, caravansary	modification of Tamil-Malayalam cāvaṭi
chula	a small earthen or brick stove	Hindi cūlha, cūla, from Sanskrit cullī fireplace, hearth, probably of Dravidian origin; akin to Tamil cuḷḷai, cūḷai hearth
chuckler	a worker in leather cobbler	Tamil-Malayalam cakkiliyar, honorific plural of cakkiliyan
chulha	a small earthen or brick stove	Hindi cūlha, cūla, from Sanskrit cullī fireplace, hearth, probably of Dravidian origin; akin to Tamil cuḷḷai, cūḷai hearth
irul	acle sense 1,2	Tamil iruḷ
chunam	lime used especially with betel leaf in making pan	Tamil cuṇṇam, from Sanskrit cūrna powder, flour, from carvati he grinds, chews; perhaps akin to Slovak čren jaw, cheekbone, Latvian ceruoklis molar
coir	a stiff coarse fiber from the outer husk of a coconut	Tamil kayir̤u rope
corindon	corundum	French, from Tamil kurundam
cumbu	pearl millet sense 1	Kaunada & Telugu kambu or Tamil kampu
fanam	a small gold or silver coin formerly in widespread use in southern India	probably modification of Tamil panam, probably from Sanskrit paṇa bet, reward, wealth
illupi	an important East Indian tree (Madhuca malabrorum) whose leaves and juice and bark are used medicinally and whose nuts yield oil and whose very sweet flowers are eaten dried or cooked with other foods  — compare mahua	Tamil iluppai & Malayalam ilippa
illupie	an important East Indian tree (Madhuca malabrorum) whose leaves and juice and bark are used medicinally and whose nuts yield oil and whose very sweet flowers are eaten dried or cooked with other foods  — compare mahua	Tamil iluppai & Malayalam ilippa
congee	porridge made from rice	Tamil kañci water from cooked rice
conicopoly	a native accountant or clerk	Tamil kaṇakkappiḷḷai, from kaṇakkan accountant (from Sanskrit gaṇaka mathematician, astrologer, from gaṇayati he reckons, from gaṇa series, multitude) + piḷḷai child (respectful title of certain castes)
corundum	a very hard mineral that consists of aluminum oxide occurring in massive and crystalline forms, that can be synthesized, and that is used for gemstones (such as ruby and sapphire) and as an abrasive	Tamil kuruntam; akin to Sanskrit kuruvinda ruby
cot	a small house	Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old Norse kot small hut            Noun (2)                 Hindi & Urdu khāṭ bedstead, from Sanskrit khaṭvā, perhaps of Dravidian origin; akin to Tamil kaṭṭil bedstead
currie	to clean the coat of (an animal, such as a horse) with a currycomb	Middle English currayen, from Anglo-French cunreier, correier to prepare, curry, from Vulgar Latin *conredare, from Latin com- + a base of Germanic origin; akin to Goth garaiths arrayed  — more at ready Noun                 Tamil kaṟi (or a cognate word in a Dravidian language)
curried	to clean the coat of (an animal, such as a horse) with a currycomb	Middle English currayen, from Anglo-French cunreier, correier to prepare, curry, from Vulgar Latin *conredare, from Latin com- + a base of Germanic origin; akin to Goth garaiths arrayed  — more at ready Noun                 Tamil kaṟi (or a cognate word in a Dravidian language)
curries	to clean the coat of (an animal, such as a horse) with a currycomb	Middle English currayen, from Anglo-French cunreier, correier to prepare, curry, from Vulgar Latin *conredare, from Latin com- + a base of Germanic origin; akin to Goth garaiths arrayed  — more at ready Noun                 Tamil kaṟi (or a cognate word in a Dravidian language)
curry	to clean the coat of (an animal, such as a horse) with a currycomb	Middle English currayen, from Anglo-French cunreier, correier to prepare, curry, from Vulgar Latin *conredare, from Latin com- + a base of Germanic origin; akin to Goth garaiths arrayed  — more at ready Noun                 Tamil kaṟi (or a cognate word in a Dravidian language)
curry favor	to clean the coat of (an animal, such as a horse) with a currycomb	Middle English currayen, from Anglo-French cunreier, correier to prepare, curry, from Vulgar Latin *conredare, from Latin com- + a base of Germanic origin; akin to Goth garaiths arrayed  — more at ready Noun                 Tamil kaṟi (or a cognate word in a Dravidian language)
currying	to clean the coat of (an animal, such as a horse) with a currycomb	Middle English currayen, from Anglo-French cunreier, correier to prepare, curry, from Vulgar Latin *conredare, from Latin com- + a base of Germanic origin; akin to Goth garaiths arrayed  — more at ready Noun                 Tamil kaṟi (or a cognate word in a Dravidian language)
ghurry	either of two periods of time:	Hindi ghaṛī, from Sanskrit ghaṭikā water pot (used as a water clock), space of time, from ghaṭa pot, perhaps of Dravidian origin; akin to Tamil kuṭam pot
kadamba	an East Indian shade tree (Anthocephalus cadamba) of the family Rubiaceae having hard yellowish wood and globose clusters of flowers	Sanskrit, of Dravidian origin; akin to Tamil-Malayalam kaṭampu
jangada	a raft made of logs of light wood with a sail, seat, steering oar, and dagger boards and used by fishermen along the northeast coast of Brazil	Portuguese, from Tamil caṅkaṭam or Malayalam caṅṅāṭam, from Sanskrit saṁghāta joining of timber, union
janapa	sunn sense 2	Tamil caṇappu, caṇappai
janapan	sunn sense 2	Tamil caṇappu, caṇappai
katel	a wooden hammock used in Africa as a bed in a wagon	Afrikaans, from Portuguese catel, catre cot, from Tamil-Malayalam kaṭṭil bedstead, bier
kangani	an overseer of labor in Sri Lanka, India, and Malaysia	Tamil kaṇkāṇi, literally, one who sees with the eyes, from kaṇ eye + kāṇ to see
kanganies	an overseer of labor in Sri Lanka, India, and Malaysia	Tamil kaṇkāṇi, literally, one who sees with the eyes, from kaṇ eye + kāṇ to see
kanganis	an overseer of labor in Sri Lanka, India, and Malaysia	Tamil kaṇkāṇi, literally, one who sees with the eyes, from kaṇ eye + kāṇ to see
kangany	an overseer of labor in Sri Lanka, India, and Malaysia	Tamil kaṇkāṇi, literally, one who sees with the eyes, from kaṇ eye + kāṇ to see
katuka	russell's viper	perhaps from Sanskrit kaṭuka sharp, bitter, fierce, from kaṭu, probably of Dravidian origin; akin to Tamil kaṭu to be pungent, ache, Malayalam kaṭu pungent, extreme
kolattam	a folk dance of southern India accompanied by the striking together of sticks	Tamil kōl stick + āṭṭam dance
patchouli	a heavy perfume made from the fragrant essential oil of a southeast Asian mint (Pogostemon cablin)	Tamil paccuḷi
pandal	a shelter erected in India of upright poles supporting a roof that is usually of bamboo matting	Tamil-Malayalam pantal
pandaram	a Hindu ascetic mendicant of the Sudra or sometimes a lower caste	Tamil paṇṭāram
koombar	an East Indian timber tree (Gmelina arborea) used especially for building foundations and for boat decks	Tamil kumir̤
mulligatawny	a rich soup usually of chicken stock seasoned with curry	Tamil miḷakutaṇṇi, from miḷaku pepper + taṇṇi water
naartje	tangerine sense 2	Afrikaans, from Tamil nārattai, from nāram lemon
naartjie	tangerine sense 2	Afrikaans, from Tamil nārattai, from nāram lemon
palli	a member of a Sudra caste of field laborers	Tamil paḷḷi
patchouly	a heavy perfume made from the fragrant essential oil of a southeast Asian mint (Pogostemon cablin)	Tamil paccuḷi
puja	a Hindu act of worship or propitiation                                                                 the priest advised us to do puja and make offerings … for relief from our terrible problem — New Yorker	Sanskrit pūjā, probably of Dravidian origin; akin to Tamil pūcu to anoint, besmear
pettah	a village or suburb outside a fort in India or Sri Lanka	Tamil pēṭṭai, Malayalam pēṭṭa, & Kanarese pēṭe
popadam	an Indian cake often eaten with curry and made of a thin strip or a ball of gluten flour or cornmeal fried in oil or other fat	Tamil-Malayalam pappaṭam
popadum	an Indian cake often eaten with curry and made of a thin strip or a ball of gluten flour or cornmeal fried in oil or other fat	Tamil-Malayalam pappaṭam
pariah	a member of a low caste of southern India	Tamil paṟaiyan, literally, drummer
pollam	a district in India held in feudal tenure by a poligar	Tamil pāļaiyam, from Sanskrit pālayati he guards; probably akin to Sanskrit piparti he brings over, rescues
portia tree	a tropical tree (Thespesia populnea) that is closely related to the majaguas, has rounded cordate leaves and showy yellow and purple flowers, yields a valuable pinkish to dark red close-textured wood resistant to warping and an oil from its seeds, and is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental                                                      — called also bendy tree,  seaside mahoe,  tulip tree	Tamil puraśu
Dravida	dravidian	Sanskrit Drāviḍa, Draviḍa, of Dravidian origin; akin to Tamil tamir̤ Tamil
siris	any of several trees of the genus Albizziasuch as	Hindi sirīs, from Sanskrit śirīṣa, probably of Dravidian origin; akin to Tamil ur̤iñcil, Kanarese sirsala
Alvar	the plant community consisting typically of mosses and calciphilous herbaceous plants that grows on steppelike shallow alkaline soils overlying Scandinavian limestones	Swedish ålvar Noun (2)                 Tamil Ār̤vār, from ār̤- to sink, be immersed in meditation
Colleries	a Dravidian people of southern India	probably modification of Tamil kaḷḷar thieves, from kaḷ to steal
Collery	a Dravidian people of southern India	probably modification of Tamil kaḷḷar thieves, from kaḷ to steal
vetiver	a tall perennial grass (Vetiveria zizanioides) of southeastern Asia cultivated in warm regions especially for its fragrant roots which are used especially in woven goods (such as mats) and in perfumes	French vétiver, from Tamil veṭṭivēr
Curry	to clean the coat of (an animal, such as a horse) with a currycomb	Middle English currayen, from Anglo-French cunreier, correier to prepare, curry, from Vulgar Latin *conredare, from Latin com- + a base of Germanic origin; akin to Goth garaiths arrayed  — more at ready Noun                 Tamil kaṟi (or a cognate word in a Dravidian language)
Dravidas	dravidian	Sanskrit Drāviḍa, Draviḍa, of Dravidian origin; akin to Tamil tamir̤ Tamil
tulsi	holy basil	Hindi tulsī, from Sanskrit tulasī, probably of Dravidian origin; akin to Tamil tur̤āy, Kanarese toḷaci
Pongol	the great Tamil New Year's festival of southern India beginning the month Magh	Tamil poṅkal boiling, a preparation of boiled rice; from the rice's being offered at the festival
Tamil	a Dravidian language of Tamil Nadu state, India, and of northern and eastern Sri Lanka	Tamil Tamiẓ; akin to Pali Damiḷa, a Dravidian-speaking people, Sanskrit Dravida
Telinga	sepoy	of Dravidian origin; akin to Tamil teliṅkam Telugu country; from the employment of Telugus as sepoys
Vedda	a member of an aboriginal people of Sri Lanka	borrowed from Sinhalese væddā, borrowed from a Dravidian source akin to Tamil vēṭu hunter," Malayalam vēṭan, Kannada bēḍa"
Veddah	a member of an aboriginal people of Sri Lanka	borrowed from Sinhalese væddā, borrowed from a Dravidian source akin to Tamil vēṭu hunter," Malayalam vēṭan, Kannada bēḍa"
Vellalas	a member of a Tamil caste of the highest Sudra rank whose members are numerous in Madras and consist chiefly of landowners and cultivators	Tamil veḷḷāḷan
Vellalla	a member of a Tamil caste of the highest Sudra rank whose members are numerous in Madras and consist chiefly of landowners and cultivators	Tamil veḷḷāḷan
Vellallas	a member of a Tamil caste of the highest Sudra rank whose members are numerous in Madras and consist chiefly of landowners and cultivators	Tamil veḷḷāḷan
tur	any of several Caucasian wild goats (as Capra cylindricornis of the eastern, C. severtzowi of the western, and C. caucasica of the central Caucasus)	Russian, urus, Caucasian goat; akin to Latin taurus bull            Noun (2)                 Hindi tuar, from Sanskrit tubarī, of Dravidian origin; akin to Tamil tuvarai tur, Kanarese togari
yercum	mudar	Tamil yerkum