Etymology Map
Back to all words

Brasserie

3 stages from French to English.

Today it means an informal restaurant, originally one serving beer

Where does the word "brasserie" come from? It comes from French brasser, passing through French before entering English (1900s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
brasser
French · medieval
"to brew"
to brew, from Gaulish-Latin 'braces', a kind of grain
2
Stage 2 of 3
brasserie
French · 1800s
"beer restaurant"
a brewery, then a beer restaurant; Alsatians who moved to Paris after 1870 opened many, such as Brasserie Lipp
3
Stage 3 of 3
brasserie
English · 1900s
"informal restaurant"
borrowed for informal French-style restaurants
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Read the full story

Brasserie’s story begins in French: brasser meant “to brew.” To brew, from Gaulish-Latin 'braces', a kind of grain. Within French, it grew into brasserie by 1800s. A brewery, then a beer restaurant; Alsatians who moved to Paris after 1870 opened many, such as Brasserie Lipp. It reached English by 1900s as brasserie. Borrowed for informal French-style restaurants. Today, brasserie means an informal restaurant, originally one serving beer.