Etymology Map
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Battery

3 stages from Vulgar Latin to English.

Today it means a device storing electricity; a group of guns

Where does the word "battery" come from? It comes from Vulgar Latin battuere, passing through French before entering English (1530s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
battuere
Vulgar Latin · ancient
"to beat"
the root of 'battle' and 'batter'
2
Stage 2 of 3
batterie
French · 1500s
"beating; artillery"
a group of cannons firing together
3
Stage 3 of 3
battery
English · 1530s
"beating; artillery"
Benjamin Franklin applied it to linked electrical jars in 1749
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Read the full story

Battery’s story begins in Vulgar Latin: battuere meant “to beat.” The root of 'battle' and 'batter'. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in French as batterie. A group of cannons firing together. It reached English by 1530s as battery. Benjamin Franklin applied it to linked electrical jars in 1749. Today, battery means a device storing electricity; a group of guns.