combat

Where does the word "combat" come from? It comes from Vulgar Latin combattere, passing through French before entering English (1560s).

Combat’s story begins in Vulgar Latin: combattere meant “to fight together.” To fight together, from com- (together) and battuere (to beat). By 1400s, the word had taken hold in French as combat. Settled in French military vocabulary for armed fighting. It reached English by 1560s as combat. Used of single combat between knights before it meant fighting between armies. Today, combat means fighting between opposing military forces, or a struggle against something.

1. Stage 1 · Vulgar Latin · medieval combattere "to fight together", to fight together, from com- (together) and battuere (to beat).
2. Stage 2 · French · 1400s combat "armed fighting between opposing forces", settled in French military vocabulary for armed fighting.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1560s combat "fighting between opposing forces", used of single combat between knights before it meant fighting between armies.