carpenter

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

Carpenter’s story begins in Latin: carpentum meant “two-wheeled carriage.” A Gaulish word; the 'carpentarius' built carriages. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as carpentier. Broadened to any woodworker. It reached English by 1300s as carpenter. Replaced Old English 'treowwyrhta', tree-worker. Today, carpenter means a person who makes wooden structures.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient carpentum "two-wheeled carriage", a Gaulish word; the 'carpentarius' built carriages.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval carpentier "woodworker", broadened to any woodworker.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s carpenter "woodworker", replaced Old English 'treowwyrhta', tree-worker.