corral

Where does the word "corral" come from? It comes from Spanish corral, passing through Mexican Spanish before entering English (1820s).

Corral’s story begins in Spanish: corral meant “enclosure.” An enclosure or yard, perhaps from Vulgar Latin 'currale', a pen for carts. By 1600s, the word had taken hold in Mexican Spanish as corral. Used for livestock pens on the cattle ranches of northern New Spain. It reached English by 1820s as corral. Taken up by Anglo settlers and cowboys in Texas and the Southwest. Today, corral means a pen for livestock, especially horses or cattle.

1. Stage 1 · Spanish · medieval corral "enclosure", an enclosure or yard, perhaps from Vulgar Latin 'currale', a pen for carts.
2. Stage 2 · Mexican Spanish · 1600s corral "livestock pen", used for livestock pens on the cattle ranches of northern New Spain.
3. Stage 3 · American English · 1820s corral "livestock pen", taken up by Anglo settlers and cowboys in Texas and the Southwest.