bay

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

Bay’s story begins in Late Latin: baia meant “bay.” A Late Latin word, possibly Iberian. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as baie. A coastal inlet. It reached English by 1300s as bay. The unrelated 'bay' tree comes from Latin 'baca', berry. Today, bay means a broad curved inlet of the sea.

1. Stage 1 · Late Latin · ancient baia "bay", a Late Latin word, possibly Iberian.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval baie "bay", a coastal inlet.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s bay "inlet", the unrelated 'bay' tree comes from Latin 'baca', berry.