Etymology Map
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Braille

2 stages from French to English.

Today it means a writing system of raised dots read by touch

Where does the word "braille" come from? It comes from French Braille, adopted directly into English (1850s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
Braille
French · 1824
"a family name"
Louis Braille, blinded at three in his father's harness workshop at Coupvray, devised his six-dot code at 15 in 1824, adapting Charles Barbier's army 'night writing'
2
Stage 2 of 2
braille
English · 1850s
"raised-dot writing for the blind"
Britain's British and Foreign Blind Association, founded by Thomas Rhodes Armitage in 1868, campaigned for braille over rival raised-letter systems
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Read the full story

Braille’s story begins in French: Braille meant “a family name.” Louis Braille, blinded at three in his father's harness workshop at Coupvray, devised his six-dot code at 15 in 1824, adapting Charles Barbier's army 'night writing'. It reached English by 1850s as braille. Britain's British and Foreign Blind Association, founded by Thomas Rhodes Armitage in 1868, campaigned for braille over rival raised-letter systems. Today, braille means a writing system of raised dots read by touch.