cattle

Where does the word "cattle" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin capitale, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

Cattle’s story begins in Medieval Latin: capitale meant “property.” From 'caput', head; the same word gave 'capital'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as chatel. Norman 'catel' gave cattle while Parisian 'chatel' gave 'chattel'. It reached English by 1200s as cattle. Narrowed to cows because livestock was the main movable wealth. Today, cattle means cows and bulls kept on a farm.

1. Stage 1 · Medieval Latin · medieval capitale "property", from 'caput', head; the same word gave 'capital'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval chatel "property", Norman 'catel' gave cattle while Parisian 'chatel' gave 'chattel'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s cattle "property, livestock", narrowed to cows because livestock was the main movable wealth.