colonnade

Where does the word "colonnade" come from? It comes from Latin columna, passing through French before entering English (1710s).

Colonnade’s story begins in Latin: columna meant “a column, a pillar.” A pillar, a column. By 1700s, the word had taken hold in French as colonnade. Settled in French for a row of evenly spaced columns. It reached English by 1710s as colonnade. Bernini's colonnades around St Peter's Square (1667) are the most famous example. Today, colonnade means a row of columns, typically supporting a roof or a series of arches.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient columna "a column, a pillar", a pillar, a column.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1700s colonnade "a row of evenly spaced columns", settled in French for a row of evenly spaced columns.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1710s colonnade "a row of columns supporting a structure", Bernini's colonnades around St Peter's Square (1667) are the most famous example.