What is the origin of 'sleep tight'?
Read moreOne of the mysteries of the English language finally explained.
The ritual washing of parts of the body before prayer or handling the Qur'an; = "woodoo".
Mid 17th century; earliest use found in Paul Rycaut (1629–1700), diplomat and author. From Ottoman Turkish abdest (Turkish abdest) and (in later use) its etymon Persian ābdast from āb water + dast hand, forearm.