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Tracing “”…
Where does the word "filter" come from? It comes from Frankish filtir, passing through French before entering English (1560s).
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Where does the word "filter" come from? It comes from Frankish filtir, passing through French before entering English (1560s).
Filter’s story begins in Frankish: filtir meant “felt.” A Frankish word; felt was used to strain liquids. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in French as filtre. Came via Medieval Latin 'filtrum'. It reached English by 1560s as filter. Photo 'filters' date from the 1900s; social media filters from the 2010s. Today, filter means a device that removes impurities.
- Stage 1 · Frankish · ancient filtir "felt", a Frankish word; felt was used to strain liquids.
- Stage 2 · French · 1500s filtre "felt, strainer", came via Medieval Latin 'filtrum'.
- Stage 3 · English · 1560s filter "strainer", photo 'filters' date from the 1900s; social media filters from the 2010s.