cartridge

Where does the word "cartridge" come from? It comes from Latin charta, passing through Italian and French before entering English (1570s).

Cartridge’s story begins in Latin: charta meant “paper, leaf of papyrus.” A general word for a leaf of paper. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Italian as cartoccio. An augmentative of carta coined for a twist of paper wrapping something. From there it passed into French as cartouche by 1500s. Borrowed for a paper-wrapped charge of gunpowder. It reached English by 1570s as cartridge. The French form was garbled in English and later extended to any small pre-packaged charge or container. Today, cartridge means a container holding ammunition, ink, or other material for insertion into a device.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient charta "paper, leaf of papyrus", a general word for a leaf of paper.
2. Stage 2 · Italian · medieval cartoccio "a roll or twist of paper", an augmentative of carta coined for a twist of paper wrapping something.
3. Stage 3 · French · 1500s cartouche "a full charge for a firearm, wrapped in paper", borrowed for a paper-wrapped charge of gunpowder.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1570s cartridge "a case holding a charge of propellant and shot, ink, or film", the French form was garbled in English and later extended to any small pre-packaged charge or container.