fig

Where does the word "fig" come from? It comes from Latin ficus, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

Fig’s story begins in Latin: ficus meant “fig tree.” Probably from a Mediterranean language, like Hebrew 'pag'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as figue. Via Provençal 'figa'. It reached English by 1200s as fig. 'not care a fig' dates from the 1400s. Today, fig means a soft sweet fruit full of small seeds.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient ficus "fig tree", probably from a Mediterranean language, like Hebrew 'pag'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval figue "fig", via Provençal 'figa'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s fig "fig fruit", 'not care a fig' dates from the 1400s.