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Where does the word "card" come from? It comes from Greek khartēs, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).
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Where does the word "card" come from? It comes from Greek khartēs, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).
Card’s story begins in Greek: khartēs meant “papyrus leaf.” Greek, possibly from Egyptian. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as carte. Came through Latin 'charta' and Italian. It reached English by 1400s as card. The same root gives 'chart', 'charter' and 'cartoon'. Today, card means a piece of thick paper.
- Stage 1 · Greek · ancient khartēs "papyrus leaf", Greek, possibly from Egyptian.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval carte "paper, card", came through Latin 'charta' and Italian.
- Stage 3 · English · 1400s card "playing card", the same root gives 'chart', 'charter' and 'cartoon'.