brace

Where does the word "brace" come from? It comes from Latin bracchia, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Brace’s story begins in Latin: bracchia meant “arms.” Plural of 'bracchium', arm. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as brace. The span of two arms. It reached English by 1300s as brace. Dental 'braces' date from the 1900s. Today, brace means a support; a pair.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient bracchia "arms", plural of 'bracchium', arm.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval brace "two arms", the span of two arms.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s brace "pair; support", dental 'braces' date from the 1900s.