Etymology Map
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Detail

3 stages from Late Latin to English.

Today it means an individual feature or fact

Where does the word "detail" come from? It comes from Late Latin taliare, passing through Old French before entering English (1600s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
taliare
Late Latin · ancient
"to cut"
the same root as 'tailor'
2
Stage 2 of 3
detail
Old French · medieval
"a cutting into pieces"
'de-' plus 'taillier', to cut: dividing into small parts
3
Stage 3 of 3
detail
English · 1600s
"a small part"
military 'details', small groups assigned a task, came in the 1700s
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Read the full story

Detail’s story begins in Late Latin: taliare meant “to cut.” The same root as 'tailor'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as detail. 'de-' plus 'taillier', to cut: dividing into small parts. It reached English by 1600s as detail. Military 'details', small groups assigned a task, came in the 1700s. Today, detail means an individual feature or fact.