Etymology Map
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Booth

3 stages from Old Norse to English.

Today it means a small temporary structure for selling goods or voting

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

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

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.