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Where does the word "chart" come from? It comes from Latin charta, passing through French before entering English (1570s).
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Where does the word "chart" come from? It comes from Latin charta, passing through French before entering English (1570s).
Chart’s story begins in Latin: charta meant “paper, map.” From Greek 'khartēs', papyrus. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in French as charte. A sailor's map. It reached English by 1570s as chart. Music 'charts' date from the 1950s. Today, chart means a map or diagram.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient charta "paper, map", from Greek 'khartēs', papyrus.
- Stage 2 · French · 1500s charte "map", a sailor's map.
- Stage 3 · English · 1570s chart "map", music 'charts' date from the 1950s.