Etymology Map
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Charge

3 stages from Late Latin to English.

Today it means to ask a price; to rush forward; electrical energy

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
carricare
Late Latin · ancient
"to load a wagon"
from 'carrus', wagon, the same root as 'car' and 'carry'
2
Stage 2 of 3
chargier
Old French · medieval
"to load"
a burden, then a duty or cost
3
Stage 3 of 3
charge
English · 1200s
"to load; a burden"
electrical 'charge' dates from the 1740s
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Read the full story

Charge’s story begins in Late Latin: carricare meant “to load a wagon.” From 'carrus', wagon, the same root as 'car' and 'carry'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as chargier. A burden, then a duty or cost. It reached English by 1200s as charge. Electrical 'charge' dates from the 1740s. Today, charge means to ask a price; to rush forward; electrical energy.