cartel

Where does the word "cartel" come from? It comes from Italian carta, passing through French before entering English (1900s).

Cartel’s story begins in Italian: carta meant “a letter, a formal document.” A letter, a document, especially one formalizing an agreement between rivals. By 1600s, the word had taken hold in French as cartel. Carried into French for a written agreement between opposing parties. It reached English by 1900s as cartel. Narrowed to mean businesses or groups colluding to control a market. Today, cartel means an alliance of businesses or groups formed to limit competition and control a market.

1. Stage 1 · Italian · medieval carta "a letter, a formal document", a letter, a document, especially one formalizing an agreement between rivals.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1600s cartel "a written agreement, especially between rivals", carried into French for a written agreement between opposing parties.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1900s cartel "a group colluding to control a market", narrowed to mean businesses or groups colluding to control a market.