booth

Where does the word "booth" come from? It comes from Old Norse búð, passing through Middle English before entering English (1500s).

Booth’s story begins in Old Norse: búð meant “hut, stall.” A temporary dwelling, from 'búa', to dwell; the Icelandic Althing assembly met in booths. By 1200s, the word had taken hold in Middle English as bothe. A market stall at fairs. It reached English by 1500s as booth. The telephone booth dates from the 1890s. Today, booth means a small temporary structure for selling goods or voting.

1. Stage 1 · Old Norse · medieval búð "hut, stall", a temporary dwelling, from 'búa', to dwell; the Icelandic Althing assembly met in booths.
2. Stage 2 · Middle English · 1200s bothe "stall", a market stall at fairs.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s booth "small enclosure", the telephone booth dates from the 1890s.