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Where does the word "break" come from? It comes from Proto-Germanic brekaną, passing through Old English before entering English (1500s).
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Where does the word "break" come from? It comes from Proto-Germanic brekaną, passing through Old English before entering English (1500s).
Break’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: brekaną meant “to break.” Cognate with Latin 'frangere', as in 'fragile' and 'fraction'. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as brecan. 'breach' is a close relative. It reached English by 1500s as break. 'breakfast' is the meal that breaks the night's fast. Today, break means to separate into pieces by force.
- Stage 1 · Proto-Germanic · ancient brekaną "to break", cognate with Latin 'frangere', as in 'fragile' and 'fraction'.
- Stage 2 · Old English · 700s-1000s brecan "to break", 'breach' is a close relative.
- Stage 3 · English · 1500s break "to break", 'breakfast' is the meal that breaks the night's fast.