Definition of tan

The word "tan" has a fascinating origin. It comes from the 16th-century Spanish word "tano," which means "to dry" or "to parch." This is because skin that's been exposed to the sun becomes dry, leathery, and brown, resembling the texture of dried leather. The Spanish word "tano" is derived from the Latin word "tannare," which means "to tan" or "to dry." This Latin word is also the source of the English word "tannin," a type of polyphenol found in plants that's used to tan leather. As European sailors and explorers spent more time at sea, their skin became darker due to sun exposure, leading to the adoption of the term "tan" to describe this discoloration. Today, the word "tan" is used globally to describe the sun-kissed skin that results from exposure to the sun's rays.