The Egyptians and Moors of the 12th and 13th centuries used the Arabic word for the plant, bamya, suggesting it had come into Egypt from Arabia, but earlier it was probably taken from Ethiopia to Arabia.
12. ja 13. sajandi egiptlased ja maurid kasutasid okra jaoks araabiakeelset sõna bamya, mis vihjab sellele, et see saabus Egiptusesse Araabiast, kuid varem oli see arvatavasti viidud Etioopiast Araabiasse.