chase

Where does the word "chase" come from? It comes from Vulgar Latin captare, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Chase’s story begins in Vulgar Latin: captare meant “to try to seize.” From 'capere', to take. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as chacier. Norman French 'cachier' gave English its twin word 'catch'. It reached English by 1300s as chase. Also names private hunting land, as in Cannock Chase. Today, chase means to pursue in order to catch.

1. Stage 1 · Vulgar Latin · ancient captare "to try to seize", from 'capere', to take.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval chacier "to hunt", Norman French 'cachier' gave English its twin word 'catch'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s chase "to pursue", also names private hunting land, as in Cannock Chase.