artisan

Where does the word "artisan" come from? It comes from Latin ars, passing through Italian and French before entering English (1500s-1600s).

Artisan’s story begins in Latin: ars meant “skill, craft.” Meaning "skill" or "craft". By medieval, the word had taken hold in Italian as artigiano. Named a skilled craftsperson. From there it passed into French as artisan by 1500s. Adopted for a skilled tradesperson. It reached English by 1500s-1600s as artisan. Used for skilled urban workers as guilds gave way to workshops and factories. Today, artisan means a worker in a skilled trade, especially one making things by hand.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient ars "skill, craft", meaning "skill" or "craft".
2. Stage 2 · Italian · medieval artigiano "a skilled craftsperson", named a skilled craftsperson.
3. Stage 3 · French · 1500s artisan "a skilled tradesperson", adopted for a skilled tradesperson.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1500s-1600s artisan "a worker skilled in a particular craft", used for skilled urban workers as guilds gave way to workshops and factories.