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Where does the word "fiber" come from? It comes from Latin fibra, passing through French before entering English (1540s).
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Where does the word "fiber" come from? It comes from Latin fibra, passing through French before entering English (1540s).
Fiber’s story begins in Latin: fibra meant “filament.” Possibly related to 'filum', thread. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in French as fibre. In late 1300s English 'fibre' meant a lobe of the liver; the textile sense dates from 1827. It reached English by 1540s as fiber. Dietary 'fibre' dates from the 1970s. Today, fiber means a thread or filament.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient fibra "filament", possibly related to 'filum', thread.
- Stage 2 · French · 1500s fibre "fibre", in late 1300s English 'fibre' meant a lobe of the liver; the textile sense dates from 1827.
- Stage 3 · English · 1540s fiber "filament", dietary 'fibre' dates from the 1970s.