cravat

Where does the word "cravat" come from? It comes from Croatian Hrvat, passing through French before entering English (1600s).

Cravat’s story begins in Croatian: Hrvat meant “a Croat.” Meaning "a Croat", the mercenaries whose distinctive neckwear caught French attention. By 1600s, the word had taken hold in French as Croate. Adopted after encountering Croatian cavalry serving in the French army. By 1600s, French speakers had reshaped it into cravate. Named the knotted neckcloth worn by the Croatian soldiers. It reached English by 1600s as cravat. Croatian mercenaries in French service wore knotted neckcloths, which Louis XIV's court copied. Today, cravat means a band or scarf of fabric worn around the neck, tied in a knot at the front.

1. Stage 1 · Croatian · medieval Hrvat "a Croat", meaning "a Croat", the mercenaries whose distinctive neckwear caught French attention.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1600s Croate "Croatian", adopted after encountering Croatian cavalry serving in the French army.
3. Stage 3 · French · 1600s cravate "a knotted neckcloth", named the knotted neckcloth worn by the Croatian soldiers.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1600s cravat "a band of fabric worn around the neck", Croatian mercenaries in French service wore knotted neckcloths, which Louis XIV's court copied.