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Where does the word "breach" come from? It comes from Frankish brekan, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
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Where does the word "breach" come from? It comes from Frankish brekan, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Breach’s story begins in Frankish: brekan meant “to break.” A Germanic word related to English 'break'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as breche. A gap broken in a wall. It reached English by 1300s as breach. 'breach of contract' dates from the 1500s. Today, breach means a gap; a breaking of a rule.
- Stage 1 · Frankish · ancient brekan "to break", a Germanic word related to English 'break'.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval breche "breach", a gap broken in a wall.
- Stage 3 · English · 1300s breach "a break", 'breach of contract' dates from the 1500s.