Persian bātinǧān lies behind Arabic al bādinǧān and Catalan albergínia. French aubergine then supplied the English word. The al beginning remains visible in the Arabic and Catalan forms.
French is omitted from the cards because its spelling matches English. Sources differ on deeper Indian forms; those are outside the scored route. Romanizations also vary.
Sources
- Merriam-Webster: aubergine
Word History gives Arabic, Catalan and French stages before English.
- CNRTL / TLF: aubergine
The etymology article supplies the Persian-to-Arabic route and the source of French.