barrier

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

Barrier’s story begins in Vulgar Latin: barra meant “bar.” A Vulgar Latin word of uncertain, possibly Gaulish, origin. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as barriere. A fence of bars. It reached English by 1300s as barrier. 'sound barrier' dates from the 1930s. Today, barrier means a fence or obstacle.

1. Stage 1 · Vulgar Latin · ancient barra "bar", a Vulgar Latin word of uncertain, possibly Gaulish, origin.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval barriere "barricade", a fence of bars.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s barrier "barricade", 'sound barrier' dates from the 1930s.