Etymology Map
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Colony

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a territory settled and controlled by another country

Where does the word "colony" come from? It comes from Latin colonia, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
colonia
Latin · ancient
"settlement"
from 'colonus', farmer, from 'colere', to cultivate
2
Stage 2 of 3
colonie
Old French · medieval
"colony"
Roman colonies of veteran soldiers
3
Stage 3 of 3
colony
English · 1400s
"settlement"
Cologne in Germany is named after a Roman 'colonia'
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Read the full story

Colony’s story begins in Latin: colonia meant “settlement.” From 'colonus', farmer, from 'colere', to cultivate. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as colonie. Roman colonies of veteran soldiers. It reached English by 1400s as colony. Cologne in Germany is named after a Roman 'colonia'. Today, colony means a territory settled and controlled by another country.