Etymology Map
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Corral

3 stages from Spanish to English.

Today it means a pen for livestock, especially horses or cattle

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

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

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.