cascade

Where does the word "cascade" come from? It comes from Latin cadere, passing through Italian before entering English (1640s).

Cascade’s story begins in Latin: cadere meant “to fall.” The root of 'cadence', 'decadent' and 'chance'. By 1600s, the word had taken hold in Italian as cascata. Settled in Italian for a small waterfall falling in stages. It reached English by 1640s as cascade. Italian Baroque gardens featured stepped water cascades. Today, cascade means a small waterfall, or a process in which one thing triggers a series of others.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient cadere "to fall", the root of 'cadence', 'decadent' and 'chance'.
2. Stage 2 · Italian · 1600s cascata "a small waterfall", settled in Italian for a small waterfall falling in stages.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1640s cascade "a small waterfall, or a process happening in stages", Italian Baroque gardens featured stepped water cascades.