armor

Where does the word "armor" come from? It comes from Latin arma, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (1300s).

Armor’s story begins in Latin: arma meant “weapons, arms.” The root of 'army', 'armada' and 'alarm'. Within Latin, it grew into armatura by ancient. Equipment, protective covering, from arma. From there it passed into Old French as armeure by medieval. Carried into French for protective covering worn in battle. It reached English by 1300s as armor. Settled as the English word for protective covering worn in battle. Today, armor means protective covering worn or fitted to prevent injury, especially in combat.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient arma "weapons, arms", the root of 'army', 'armada' and 'alarm'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient armatura "equipment, protective covering", equipment, protective covering, from arma.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval armeure "protective covering worn in battle", carried into French for protective covering worn in battle.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1300s armor "protective covering worn to prevent injury in battle", settled as the English word for protective covering worn in battle.