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Where does the word "escape" come from? It comes from Vulgar Latin ex cappa, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
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Where does the word "escape" come from? It comes from Vulgar Latin ex cappa, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Escape’s story begins in Vulgar Latin: ex cappa meant “out of one's cloak.” Literally out of one's cape, describing slipping free and leaving a pursuer holding only the cloak. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as escaper. Carried into French for slipping free from capture or danger. It reached English by 1300s as escape. Settled as the English word for breaking free from confinement or danger. Today, escape means to break free from confinement, danger, or an undesirable situation.
- Stage 1 · Vulgar Latin · medieval ex cappa "out of one's cloak", literally out of one's cape, describing slipping free and leaving a pursuer holding only the cloak.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval escaper "to slip free from capture or danger", carried into French for slipping free from capture or danger.
- Stage 3 · English · 1300s escape "to break free from confinement or danger", settled as the English word for breaking free from confinement or danger.