Etymology

The Sanskrit name tamala­pattra​ [तमालपत्त्र] means dark leaf, although that seems poorly moti­vated.

Greek traders took that name to their own language, but falsely identified the Sanskrit word as a plural form with definite article, (ta) malabathra [(τὰ) μαλαβάθρα] for which they backformed a singular (to) malabathron [(τὸ) μαλαβάθρον]. This name was then taken by the Romans as malabathrum or malobathrum.

Many recent languages of Northern India have names for Indian bay-leaf that derive from that Sanskrit term, e. g., Marathi tamal patra [तमाल पत्र]. In Hindi and some related tongues, the spice is known as tejpatta [तेजपत्ता] pun­gent leaf (Urdu tezpat [تیز پات]). Tamil hat probably the best de­scriptive name for this spice: ilavanga­pattiri​ [இலவங்கபத்திரி] cinnamon leaf.