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Where does the word "both" come from? It comes from Old Norse bathir, and was adopted directly into English (1200s).
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Where does the word "both" come from? It comes from Old Norse bathir, and was adopted directly into English (1200s).
Both’s story begins in Old Norse: bathir meant “the two together.” The two together, referring to a pair as a whole. It reached English by 1200s as both. Settled as the standard English word referring to two things together. Today, both means referring to the two things or people mentioned, considered together.
- Stage 1 · Old Norse · medieval bathir "the two together", the two together, referring to a pair as a whole.
- Stage 2 · English · 1200s both "referring to two things or people together", settled as the standard English word referring to two things together.