cancel

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

Cancel’s story begins in Latin: cancelli meant “a lattice, crossed bars.” A lattice or crossed bars, like those used to strike through unwanted text. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as canceller. Carried into French for striking something out with crossed lines. It reached English by 1300s as cancel. Settled as the English word for annulling or calling off something. Today, cancel means to call off or annul something previously arranged or agreed.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient cancelli "a lattice, crossed bars", a lattice or crossed bars, like those used to strike through unwanted text.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval canceller "to strike out, to annul", carried into French for striking something out with crossed lines.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s cancel "to annul or call off something planned", settled as the English word for annulling or calling off something.