Etymology Map
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Boil

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means to heat liquid until it bubbles

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
bullire
Latin · ancient
"to bubble"
from 'bulla', bubble
2
Stage 2 of 3
boillir
Old French · medieval
"to boil"
the skin 'boil' is a different word, from Old English 'byle'
3
Stage 3 of 3
boil
English · 1200s
"to bubble"
'boiling point' dates from the 1700s
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Read the full story

Boil’s story begins in Latin: bullire meant “to bubble.” From 'bulla', bubble. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as boillir. The skin 'boil' is a different word, from Old English 'byle'. It reached English by 1200s as boil. 'boiling point' dates from the 1700s. Today, boil means to heat liquid until it bubbles.