cloister

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

Cloister’s story begins in Latin: claudere meant “to close, to shut.” The root of 'closet', 'close' and 'claustrophobia'. Within Latin, it grew into claustrum by ancient. An enclosed place, from claudere. From there it passed into Old French as cloistre by medieval. Carried into French for a covered walkway enclosing a courtyard in a monastery. It reached English by 1200s as cloister. Settled as the English word for a covered monastery walkway, or a secluded place. Today, cloister means a covered walkway around a courtyard in a monastery, or a secluded, sheltered place.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient claudere "to close, to shut", the root of 'closet', 'close' and 'claustrophobia'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient claustrum "an enclosed place", an enclosed place, from claudere.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval cloistre "a covered walkway enclosing a monastery courtyard", carried into French for a covered walkway enclosing a courtyard in a monastery.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1200s cloister "a covered monastery walkway, or a secluded place", settled as the English word for a covered monastery walkway, or a secluded place.