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Where does the word "camp" come from? It comes from Latin campus, passing through Italian before entering English (1520s).
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Where does the word "camp" come from? It comes from Latin campus, passing through Italian before entering English (1520s).
Camp’s story begins in Latin: campus meant “field.” The Campus Martius was Rome's military drill field. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in Italian as campo. An army's field of encampment; came into English via French 'camp'. It reached English by 1520s as camp. 'camp' as theatrical exaggeration dates from 1909. Today, camp means a place with temporary shelters.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient campus "field", the Campus Martius was Rome's military drill field.
- Stage 2 · Italian · 1500s campo "military field", an army's field of encampment; came into English via French 'camp'.
- Stage 3 · English · 1520s camp "military camp", 'camp' as theatrical exaggeration dates from 1909.