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Cider

4 stages from Hebrew to English.

Today it means an alcoholic drink made from apples

Where does the word "cider" come from? It comes from Hebrew shekar, passing through Late Latin and Old French before entering English (1300s).

shekar→sikera→sidre→cider

Hebrew · ancient

a Hebrew word for any intoxicating drink, borrowed through Greek 'sikera'

Late Latin · ancient

"fermented liquor"

Hebrew 'shekhar', strong drink, passed through the Greek Bible into the Latin Vulgate as 'sicera'

Old French · medieval

Normandy became famous for apple cider

English · 1300s

"fermented drink"

in the US 'cider' can mean unfiltered apple juice

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Read the full story

Cider’s story begins in Hebrew: shekar meant “strong drink.” A Hebrew word for any intoxicating drink, borrowed through Greek 'sikera'. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Late Latin as sikera. Hebrew 'shekhar', strong drink, passed through the Greek Bible into the Latin Vulgate as 'sicera'. From there it passed into Old French as sidre by medieval. Normandy became famous for apple cider. It reached English by 1300s as cider. In the US 'cider' can mean unfiltered apple juice. Today, cider means an alcoholic drink made from apples.