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It is often the case that a word is borrowed by several
languages, and not just by one. Such international words usually
convey concepts which are significant in the field of
communication (e.g. philosophy, mathematics, physics, music,
theatre, drama, tragedy, comedy, politics, policy, revolution,
progress, democracy, atomic, antibiotic, radio, television, sputnik,
sports terms, fruits and foodstuffs imported from exotic countries,
etc.)

4. Etymological doublets
The words shirt and skirt etymologically descend from the
same root. Shirt is a native word, and skirt (as the initial sk
suggests) is a Scandinavian borrowing. Their phonemic shape is
different, and yet there is a certain resemblance which reflects their
common origin. Their meanings are also different but easily
associated: they both denote articles of clothing. Such words as
these two originating from the same etymological source, but
differing in phonemic shape and in meaning are called
etymological doublets. They may enter the vocabulary by different
routes. Some of these pairs, consist of a native word and a
borrowed word: shrew, n. (E.) — screw, n. (Sc). Others are
represented by two borrowings from different languages which are
historically descended from the same root: senior (Lat.) – sir (Fr.),
canal (Lat.) –channel (Fr.), captain (Lat.) – chief tan (Fr.). Still
others were borrowed from the same language twice, but in
different periods: corpse [ko:ps] (Norm. Fr.) – corps [ko:] (Par.
Fr.), travel (Norm. Fr.) – travail (Par. Fr.), cavalry (Norm. Fr.) –
chivalry (Par. Fr.), gaol (Norm. Fr.) – jail (Par. Fr.).
Etymological triplets (i. e. groups of three words of common
root) occur rarer, but here are at least two examples: hospital (Lat.)
– hostel (Norm. Fr.) – hotel (Par. Fr.); to capture (Lat.) – to catch
(Norm. Fr.) – to chase (Par. Fr.).

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