cabin

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

Cabin’s story begins in Late Latin: capanna meant “hut.” A Late Latin word, possibly Celtic. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as cabane. Came through Provençal 'cabana'. It reached English by 1300s as cabin. Ship's 'cabins' date from the 1400s. Today, cabin means a small wooden house; a room on a ship.

1. Stage 1 · Late Latin · ancient capanna "hut", a Late Latin word, possibly Celtic.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval cabane "hut", came through Provençal 'cabana'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s cabin "hut", ship's 'cabins' date from the 1400s.