comet

Where does the word "comet" come from? It comes from Greek kometes, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

Comet’s story begins in Greek: kometes meant “long-haired.” Literally long-haired, describing the star's trailing tail of light. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as comete. Carried into French astronomical vocabulary. It reached English by 1200s as comet. Settled as the English word for the icy body with a glowing tail. Today, comet means an icy celestial body that develops a glowing tail as it nears the sun.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient kometes "long-haired", literally long-haired, describing the star's trailing tail of light.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval comete "a celestial body with a trailing tail", carried into French astronomical vocabulary.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s comet "an icy celestial body with a glowing tail near the sun", settled as the English word for the icy body with a glowing tail.