crepe

Where does the word "crepe" come from? It comes from Latin crispus, passing through Old French and English before entering English (1877).

Crepe’s story begins in Latin: crispus meant “curled, wrinkled.” An adjective for curled or wrinkled texture. By 1300s, the word had taken hold in Old French as crespe. Applied to a ruffled, crimped fabric. From there it passed into English as crape by 1797. Borrowed for the crinkled mourning fabric. It reached English by 1877 as crepe. The same word was applied to a thin pancake for its wrinkled, lacy appearance. Today, crepe means a thin, light pancake, or a light crinkled fabric.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient crispus "curled, wrinkled", an adjective for curled or wrinkled texture.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · 1300s crespe "a ruffle, frill; crimped cloth", applied to a ruffled, crimped fabric.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1797 crape "a crinkled black fabric", borrowed for the crinkled mourning fabric.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1877 crepe "a thin, light pancake", the same word was applied to a thin pancake for its wrinkled, lacy appearance.