Etymology Map
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Attach

3 stages from Frankish to English.

Today it means to fasten; to join

Where does the word "attach" come from? It comes from Frankish stakka, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
stakka
Frankish · ancient
"stake"
a Frankish word related to 'stake'
2
Stage 2 of 3
atachier
Old French · medieval
"to fasten"
used in law of seizing a person or goods by legal order
3
Stage 3 of 3
attach
English · 1300s
"to seize by law"
'attached' in the emotional sense dates from the 1700s
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Read the full story

Attach’s story begins in Frankish: stakka meant “stake.” A Frankish word related to 'stake'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as atachier. Used in law of seizing a person or goods by legal order. It reached English by 1300s as attach. 'attached' in the emotional sense dates from the 1700s. Today, attach means to fasten; to join.