Etymology Map
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Cohort

2 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a group of people with a shared characteristic

Where does the word "cohort" come from? It comes from Latin cohors, adopted directly into English (1400s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
cohors
Latin · ancient
"enclosure; army unit"
a tenth of a Roman legion
2
Stage 2 of 2
cohort
English · 1400s
"body of soldiers"
statistical 'cohorts' date from the 1900s
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Read the full story

Cohort’s story begins in Latin: cohors meant “enclosure; army unit.” A tenth of a Roman legion. It reached English by 1400s as cohort. Statistical 'cohorts' date from the 1900s. Today, cohort means a group of people with a shared characteristic.