Etymology Map
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Filter

3 stages from Frankish to English.

Today it means a device that removes impurities

Where does the word "filter" come from? It comes from Frankish filtir, passing through French before entering English (1560s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
filtir
Frankish · ancient
"felt"
a Frankish word; felt was used to strain liquids
2
Stage 2 of 3
filtre
French · 1500s
"felt, strainer"
came via Medieval Latin 'filtrum'
3
Stage 3 of 3
filter
English · 1560s
"strainer"
photo 'filters' date from the 1900s; social media filters from the 2010s
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Read the full story

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.