branch

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

Branch’s story begins in Late Latin: branca meant “paw.” A Late Latin word, possibly Gaulish. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as branche. A limb of a tree. It reached English by 1300s as branch. Bank 'branches' date from the 1800s. Today, branch means a part of a tree growing from the trunk.

1. Stage 1 · Late Latin · ancient branca "paw", a Late Latin word, possibly Gaulish.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval branche "branch", a limb of a tree.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s branch "tree limb", bank 'branches' date from the 1800s.