arcade

Where does the word "arcade" come from? It comes from Latin arcus, passing through Italian and French before entering English (1731-1977).

Arcade’s story begins in Latin: arcus meant “a bow, arch.” A plain word for a bow or arch. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Italian as arcata. Named an arch, especially of a bridge. From there it passed into French as arcade by 1640s. Parisian shopping arcades of the early 1800s gave the word its commercial sense; video-game arcades followed in the 1970s. It reached English by 1731-1977 as arcade. Entered for an arched passage, later a shop-lined walkway, and eventually a venue for coin-operated games. Today, arcade means a covered passageway with arches, or a venue for coin-operated games.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient arcus "a bow, arch", a plain word for a bow or arch.
2. Stage 2 · Italian · medieval arcata "an arch", named an arch, especially of a bridge.
3. Stage 3 · French · 1640s arcade "a vaulted, arched passage", Parisian shopping arcades of the early 1800s gave the word its commercial sense; video-game arcades followed in the 1970s.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1731-1977 arcade "a covered, arched passageway; a games venue", entered for an arched passage, later a shop-lined walkway, and eventually a venue for coin-operated games.