chamber

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

Chamber’s story begins in Latin: camera meant “vaulted room.” From Greek 'kamara', vault; also gave 'camera'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as chambre. Private room of a noble. It reached English by 1200s as chamber. Parliamentary 'chambers' date from the 1500s. Today, chamber means a large room for formal use.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient camera "vaulted room", from Greek 'kamara', vault; also gave 'camera'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval chambre "room", private room of a noble.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s chamber "room", parliamentary 'chambers' date from the 1500s.