Hosanna

[classical4mom]

My children asked me today about the meaning of the word Hosanna. I always thought it was a Hebrew word meaning something like "Lord, Save Us". But in the Sanctus prayer, Hosanna in excelsis is used as "glory in the highest". Why is this this so?
Did the Christian Romans borrow this from Hebrew for their prayers? Or was it the other way around?
Just wondering if anyone knows.
Nanci

[Mungo]

"Hosanna" is the Greek version of a Hebrew word and came into Latin via the Greek. Here's more information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosanna

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07472b.htm