Etymology Map
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Chalet

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a wooden house with overhanging eaves

Where does the word "chalet" come from? It comes from Latin casa, passing through French before entering English (1750s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
casa
Latin · ancient
"hut, cottage"
the root of Italian 'casa', house
2
Stage 2 of 3
chalet
French · 1700s
"herdsman's hut"
a Swiss French dialect word
3
Stage 3 of 3
chalet
English · 1750s
"Swiss hut"
Rousseau's novels made chalets fashionable
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Read the full story

Chalet’s story begins in Latin: casa meant “hut, cottage.” The root of Italian 'casa', house. By 1700s, the word had taken hold in French as chalet. A Swiss French dialect word. It reached English by 1750s as chalet. Rousseau's novels made chalets fashionable. Today, chalet means a wooden house with overhanging eaves.