Etymology Map
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Cattle

3 stages from Medieval Latin to English.

Today it means cows and bulls kept on a farm

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

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

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.