Etymology Map
Back to all words

Commandeer

4 stages from French to English.

Today it means to take possession of something, especially for military use

Where does the word "commandeer" come from? It comes from French commander, passing through Dutch and Afrikaans before entering English (1880s).

1
Stage 1 of 4
commander
French · medieval
"to command"
to order, from Latin 'commendāre'
2
Stage 2 of 4
kommanderen
Dutch · 1600s
"to command"
borrowed by Dutch settlers at the Cape
3
Stage 3 of 4
kommandeer
Afrikaans · 1800s
"to requisition"
Boer commandos seized supplies and horses for their campaigns
4
Stage 4 of 4
commandeer
English · 1880s
"to seize for use"
British reporters in the Boer Wars took it over
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Read the full story

Commandeer’s story begins in French: commander meant “to command.” To order, from Latin 'commendāre'. By 1600s, the word had taken hold in Dutch as kommanderen. Borrowed by Dutch settlers at the Cape. From there it passed into Afrikaans as kommandeer by 1800s. Boer commandos seized supplies and horses for their campaigns. It reached English by 1880s as commandeer. British reporters in the Boer Wars took it over. Today, commandeer means to take possession of something, especially for military use.