The etymology is uncertain, but a strong candidate has long been some word related to the Biblical  (), 'paint' (if not that word itself), a cosmetic eye-shadow used by the ancient Egyptians and other inhabitants of the eastern Mediterranean.
ðɪ ˌɛɾɪmˈɑːlədʒi ɪz ʌnsˈɜːʔn̩, bˌʌt ɐ stɹˈɔŋ kˈændᵻdˌeɪt hɐz lˈɔŋ bˌɪn sˌʌm wˈɜːd ɹᵻlˈeɪɾᵻd tə ðə bˈɪblɪkəl, pˈeɪnt ɪf nˌɑːt ðæt wˈɜːd ɪtsˈɛlf, ɐ kɑːzmˈɛɾɪk ˈaɪʃˈædoʊ jˈuːzd baɪ ðɪ ˈeɪntʃənt ɪdʒˈɪpʃənz ænd ˈʌðɚɹ ɪnhˈæbɪtənts ʌvðɪ ˈiːstɚn mˌɛdɪɾɪɹˈeɪniən.