bonnet

Where does the word "bonnet" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin abonnis, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).

Bonnet’s story begins in Medieval Latin: abonnis meant “cap.” Recorded in the 600s as a kind of cap; in Old French 'bonet' first named the cloth hats were made from. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as bonet. A fabric first, then the cap made of it. It reached English by 1400s as bonnet. Car 'bonnets' in British English date from the 1900s. Today, bonnet means a hat tied under the chin; a car's hood.

1. Stage 1 · Medieval Latin · medieval abonnis "cap", recorded in the 600s as a kind of cap; in Old French 'bonet' first named the cloth hats were made from.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval bonet "cloth for caps", a fabric first, then the cap made of it.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s bonnet "cap", car 'bonnets' in British English date from the 1900s.