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Where does the word "armada" come from? It comes from Latin armata, passing through Spanish before entering English (1580s).
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Where does the word "armada" come from? It comes from Latin armata, passing through Spanish before entering English (1580s).
Armada’s story begins in Latin: armata meant “armed force.” By medieval, the word had taken hold in Spanish as armada. Came to mean a fleet of warships. It reached English by 1580s as armada. Philip II's fleet of about 130 ships sailed against England in 1588 and was scattered by storms. Today, armada means a large fleet of warships, or any large group of vehicles.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient armata "armed force", meaning "armed force".
- Stage 2 · Spanish · medieval armada "a fleet of warships", came to mean a fleet of warships.
- Stage 3 · English · 1580s armada "a fleet of warships", Philip II's fleet of about 130 ships sailed against England in 1588 and was scattered by storms.