bargain

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

Bargain’s story begins in Frankish: borganjan meant “to lend, borrow.” A Germanic verb related to 'borrow'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as bargaignier. A medieval market term for the haggling over price. It reached English by 1300s as bargain. The sense 'something bought cheaply' came in the 1500s. Today, bargain means something bought for less than its usual price; an agreement.

1. Stage 1 · Frankish · ancient borganjan "to lend, borrow", a Germanic verb related to 'borrow'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval bargaignier "to haggle", a medieval market term for the haggling over price.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s bargain "an agreement; a good deal", the sense 'something bought cheaply' came in the 1500s.