Etymology Map
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Corps

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a military unit; an organized group

Where does the word "corps" come from? It comes from Latin corpus, passing through French before entering English (1700s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
corpus
Latin · ancient
"body"
the root of 'corpse' and 'corporation'
2
Stage 2 of 3
corps
French · 1600s
"body"
a body of troops
3
Stage 3 of 3
corps
English · 1700s
"military unit"
pronounced without the p and s, as in French
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Read the full story

Corps’s story begins in Latin: corpus meant “body.” The root of 'corpse' and 'corporation'. By 1600s, the word had taken hold in French as corps. A body of troops. It reached English by 1700s as corps. Pronounced without the p and s, as in French. Today, corps means a military unit; an organized group.