disguise

Where does the word "disguise" come from? It comes from Frankish wisa, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Disguise’s story begins in Frankish: wisa meant “manner, way.” A Frankish word, the root of 'guise' and related to English 'wise' as in 'otherwise'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as desguiser. To change one's usual dress. It reached English by 1300s as disguise. 'a blessing in disguise' dates from the 1700s. Today, disguise means to change one's appearance to hide identity.

1. Stage 1 · Frankish · ancient wisa "manner, way", a Frankish word, the root of 'guise' and related to English 'wise' as in 'otherwise'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval desguiser "to change appearance", to change one's usual dress.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s disguise "to change dress", 'a blessing in disguise' dates from the 1700s.