Etymology Map
Back to all words

Cage

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a structure of bars for holding animals

Where does the word "cage" come from? It comes from Latin cavea, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
cavea
Latin · ancient
"hollow, enclosure"
from 'cavus', hollow, the root of 'cave'
2
Stage 2 of 3
cage
Old French · medieval
"cage"
Roman amphitheatre seating was also called a 'cavea'
3
Stage 3 of 3
cage
English · 1200s
"an enclosure for animals"
the same Latin word gave 'jail'
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Read the full story

Cage’s story begins in Latin: cavea meant “hollow, enclosure.” From 'cavus', hollow, the root of 'cave'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as cage. Roman amphitheatre seating was also called a 'cavea'. It reached English by 1200s as cage. The same Latin word gave 'jail'. Today, cage means a structure of bars for holding animals.