cereal

Where does the word "cereal" come from? It comes from Latin Ceres, and was adopted directly into English (1590s).

Cereal’s story begins in Latin: Ceres meant “the goddess of agriculture.” The Roman goddess of agriculture and grain. It reached English by 1590s as cereal. Broadened from the goddess to any edible grain, later breakfast food made from it. Today, cereal means an edible grain, or a breakfast food made from processed grain.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient Ceres "the goddess of agriculture", the Roman goddess of agriculture and grain.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1590s cereal "an edible grain, or food made from it", broadened from the goddess to any edible grain, later breakfast food made from it.