Etymology Map
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Cover

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means to put something over or on top of

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
cooperire
Latin · ancient
"to cover wholly"
'co-', completely, plus 'operire', to close
2
Stage 2 of 3
covrir
Old French · medieval
"to cover"
the same verb gives 'kerchief', a head-cover
3
Stage 3 of 3
cover
English · 1200s
"to put something over"
'cover story' and 'cover song' came in the 1900s
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Read the full story

Cover’s story begins in Latin: cooperire meant “to cover wholly.” 'co-', completely, plus 'operire', to close. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as covrir. The same verb gives 'kerchief', a head-cover. It reached English by 1200s as cover. 'cover story' and 'cover song' came in the 1900s. Today, cover means to put something over or on top of.