JF:
 
Note to Jansy: if our Russian speakers tell us the etymology of
/lazur'/, I'll bet the /l/ is not from Persian but the French
definite article. 
 
Dear Jerry,
 
What would you like to bet on?
Azure > med. Latin azzurum, azolum from Arabic al [=the]  + lazaward from Persian lazward = lapis lazuli.
 
A. Bouazza.
 

Search the Nabokv-L archive with Google

Contact the Editors

All private editorial communications, without exception, are read by both co-editors.

Visit Zembla

View Nabokv-L Policies