* 16th Century: The word "cacao" (referring to the plant and its beans) appeared in English around the 16th century, likely brought over from Spanish or Portuguese explorers who encountered it in the Americas.
* 17th Century: The word "cocoa" likely emerged from "cacao" by the early 17th century. Early uses often referred to the drink made from the beans.
* 18th Century: By the 18th century, "cocoa" was well-established in English usage, appearing in dictionaries and literature.
Therefore, it's safe to say that "cocoa" entered the English language sometime between the early 1600s and the early 1700s.
It's important to remember that language evolution is gradual, and pinpointing the exact year of a word's first appearance can be challenging.