battle

Where does the word "battle" come from? It comes from Vulgar Latin battuere, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

Battle’s story begins in Vulgar Latin: battuere meant “to beat, to strike.” The root of 'batter', 'battery' and 'combat'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as bataille. Carried into French for an armed fight between opposing forces. It reached English by 1200s as battle. Settled as the English word for a fight between armed forces. Today, battle means a sustained fight between large organized armed forces.

1. Stage 1 · Vulgar Latin · medieval battuere "to beat, to strike", the root of 'batter', 'battery' and 'combat'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval bataille "an armed fight", carried into French for an armed fight between opposing forces.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s battle "a fight between armed forces", settled as the English word for a fight between armed forces.