Etymology Map
Back to all words

Fiber

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a thread or filament

Where does the word "fiber" come from? It comes from Latin fibra, passing through French before entering English (1540s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
fibra
Latin · ancient
"filament"
possibly related to 'filum', thread
2
Stage 2 of 3
fibre
French · 1500s
"fibre"
in late 1300s English 'fibre' meant a lobe of the liver; the textile sense dates from 1827
3
Stage 3 of 3
fiber
English · 1540s
"filament"
dietary 'fibre' dates from the 1970s
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Read the full story

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.