The spelling of the Polish word "kaszak" is determined by its pronunciation. In IPA phonetic transcription, "kaszak" is spelled as /ˈkaʃ.ak/. The first syllable, "ka," is pronounced with a "k" sound and an "a" as in "cat." The second syllable, "szak," is pronounced with a "sh" sound as in "shoe" and an "a" as in "father." Together, the word is pronounced as "KASH-ak" and refers to a hardened, small cyst that commonly appears on the eyelids.
The word "kaszak" comes from the Polish language. Its etymology can be traced back to the Proto-Slavic word "kъštь" meaning "to boil". Over time, this term evolved in various Slavic languages, including Polish, where it gave rise to the word "kaszak". In Polish, "kaszak" specifically refers to a chalazion, which is a cyst-like swelling on the eyelid.