alert

Where does the word "alert" come from? It comes from Italian all'erta, passing through French before entering English (1590s).

Alert’s story begins in Italian: all'erta meant “on the watch.” Italian 'erta', a lookout on high ground, from 'erigere', to raise. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in French as alerte. A military cry to watch out. It reached English by 1590s as alert. First recorded before 1595 in the writing of the soldier Roger Williams, a veteran of the wars in the Low Countries; 'red alert' dates from the 1940s. Today, alert means quick to notice danger; a warning.

1. Stage 1 · Italian · 1500s all'erta "on the watch", Italian 'erta', a lookout on high ground, from 'erigere', to raise.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1500s alerte "on guard", a military cry to watch out.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1590s alert "watchful", first recorded before 1595 in the writing of the soldier Roger Williams, a veteran of the wars in the Low Countries; 'red alert' dates from the 1940s.