ambulance

Where does the word "ambulance" come from? It comes from Latin ambulare, passing through French before entering English (1800s).

Ambulance’s story begins in Latin: ambulare meant “to walk, to move about.” The same verb gives 'amble' and 'perambulate'. By 1700s, the word had taken hold in French as hopital ambulant. Walking hospital, a mobile field hospital that followed troops, from ambulant (walking, from ambulare). It reached English by 1800s as ambulance. Shortened and settled as the English word for a vehicle that transports the sick or injured. Today, ambulance means a vehicle equipped to transport sick or injured people to a hospital.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient ambulare "to walk, to move about", the same verb gives 'amble' and 'perambulate'.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1700s hopital ambulant "a mobile field hospital", walking hospital, a mobile field hospital that followed troops, from ambulant (walking, from ambulare).
3. Stage 3 · English · 1800s ambulance "a vehicle that transports the sick or injured", shortened and settled as the English word for a vehicle that transports the sick or injured.