Etymology Map
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Collar

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means the band around the neck of a garment

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

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

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.