collar

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

Collar’s story begins in Latin: collum meant “neck.” The root of 'accolade'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as coler. A piece of armour for the neck. It reached English by 1300s as collar. 'white-collar' and 'blue-collar' date from the 1920s. Today, collar means the band around the neck of a garment.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient collum "neck", the root of 'accolade'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval coler "neck armour", a piece of armour for the neck.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s collar "neckband", 'white-collar' and 'blue-collar' date from the 1920s.