female

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

Female’s story begins in Latin: femella meant “young woman.” A diminutive of 'femina', woman. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as femelle. A diminutive used of women and female animals. It reached English by 1300s as female. Spelled 'femelle' until reshaped to match 'male', creating a false link between two unrelated words. Today, female means of the sex that bears young.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient femella "young woman", a diminutive of 'femina', woman.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval femelle "female", a diminutive used of women and female animals.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s female "woman", spelled 'femelle' until reshaped to match 'male', creating a false link between two unrelated words.