bouillon

Where does the word "bouillon" come from? It comes from Latin bullire, passing through Old French and French before entering English (1650s).

Bouillon’s story begins in Latin: bullire meant “to bubble, boil.” The verb of bubbling or boiling. By 1100s, the word had taken hold in Old French as bolir. Kept the sense of boiling and bubbling up. From there it passed into French as bouillon by 1000s. A noun from the past participle of bouillir, naming the broth produced by boiling meat. It reached English by 1650s as bouillon. Borrowed for a clear meat broth. Today, bouillon means a clear broth made from boiled meat or vegetables.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient bullire "to bubble, boil", the verb of bubbling or boiling.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · 1100s bolir "to boil, bubble", kept the sense of boiling and bubbling up.
3. Stage 3 · French · 1000s bouillon "broth from boiled meat", a noun from the past participle of bouillir, naming the broth produced by boiling meat.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1650s bouillon "a clear broth from boiled meat", borrowed for a clear meat broth.