Origin: The word "guitar" ultimately comes from the Persian word "gitār". This term itself likely derived from the Greek "kithara" which was a type of stringed instrument played in ancient Greece.
Evolution:
* Persian "gitār" (13th century)
* Spanish "guitarra" (15th century) – Spanish adopted the word from Arabic "qitara" which likely came from the Persian term.
* English "guitar" (16th century) – English borrowed the word from Spanish.
Interesting Note: The word "guitar" has been used to describe a variety of stringed instruments throughout history, with different sizes and configurations of strings. The modern six-string guitar we know today evolved over centuries.
Therefore, the etymology of "guitar" takes us on a journey from ancient Greece to Persia, then through Arabic and Spanish, ultimately arriving in English. It's a testament to how language evolves, borrowing and adapting words from other cultures as they travel across time and space.