The name Chile is undeniably a Georgian word. However, it has no connection to chili peppers, which are also linked to a Georgian term—these are two distinct words with a shared origin.
In Ariane Chanturia’s dictionary, the word ჩილი (chili) is defined as "oakum"—a byproduct of flax or hemp processing, used for ship repairs (oakum was stuffed into seams and twisted into ropes).
To establish that the country’s name Chile derives from this Georgian word for oakum, we must demonstrate that Chile was a major center for oakum production, significant enough to associate the entire region with the product.
Spanish oakum (estopa) was made from cáñamo, a plant translated as both "hemp" and "flax." This information comes from the Spanish Maritime Dictionary, compiled by Martín Fernández de Navarrete. Searching for a connection between Chile and cáñamo, we find a remarkable quote in Jorge Juan and Antonio de Ulloa’s book, "Naval Secrets of America":
> "La jarcia que hay en el astillero de Guayaquil es la que se fabrica en Chile donde se cria el cáñamo cuya calidad es superior al del Norte de Europa excediéndole también en lo largo..."
> "The rigging at the Guayaquil shipyard is made in Chile, where hemp is grown. Its quality surpasses that of Northern Europe, including in length."
Thus, Chile was indeed a global center for hemp production, which explains why it received its Georgian name. It is worth noting that the official etymology of "Chile" remains largely uncertain.
0 Comments