cologne

Where does the word "cologne" come from? It comes from Latin Colonia, passing through French before entering English (1800s).

Cologne’s story begins in Latin: Colonia meant “a Roman colony, the city of Cologne.” The Roman name for the German city, meaning "colony". By 1700s, the word had taken hold in French as eau de Cologne. An Italian perfumer in the city created a famous scented water. It reached English by 1800s as cologne. Shortened from the French phrase for the fragrance. Today, cologne means a lightly scented perfume, originally made in the German city of Cologne.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient Colonia "a Roman colony, the city of Cologne", the Roman name for the German city, meaning "colony".
2. Stage 2 · French · 1700s eau de Cologne "water of Cologne, a scented water", an Italian perfumer in the city created a famous scented water.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1800s cologne "a lightly scented perfume", shortened from the French phrase for the fragrance.