Etymology Map
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Crust

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means the hard outer layer of bread

Where does the word "crust" come from? It comes from Latin crusta, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
crusta
Latin · ancient
"shell, crust"
the root of 'crustacean'
2
Stage 2 of 3
crouste
Old French · medieval
"crust"
the hard outer part of bread
3
Stage 3 of 3
crust
English · 1300s
"bread crust"
Earth's 'crust' dates from the 1500s
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Read the full story

Crust’s story begins in Latin: crusta meant “shell, crust.” The root of 'crustacean'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as crouste. The hard outer part of bread. It reached English by 1300s as crust. Earth's 'crust' dates from the 1500s. Today, crust means the hard outer layer of bread.