Etymology Map
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Corner

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a place where two sides meet

Where does the word "corner" come from? It comes from Latin cornu, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
cornu
Latin · ancient
"horn, point"
the root of 'cornet' and 'unicorn'
2
Stage 2 of 3
cornier
Old French · medieval
"angle, corner"
Anglo-French form from 'corne', horn or angle
3
Stage 3 of 3
corner
English · 1200s
"angle"
'corner the market' dates from the 1800s
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Read the full story

Corner’s story begins in Latin: cornu meant “horn, point.” The root of 'cornet' and 'unicorn'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as cornier. Anglo-French form from 'corne', horn or angle. It reached English by 1200s as corner. 'corner the market' dates from the 1800s. Today, corner means a place where two sides meet.