finesse

Where does the word "finesse" come from? It comes from French fin, and was adopted directly into English (1520s).

Finesse’s story begins in French: fin meant “fine, delicate.” Fine, delicate, the root of skillful, subtle handling. It reached English by 1520s as finesse. Settled as the English word for skillful, subtle handling of a situation. Today, finesse means skillful and subtle handling of a situation, or refined delicacy.

1. Stage 1 · French · medieval fin "fine, delicate", fine, delicate, the root of skillful, subtle handling.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1520s finesse "skillful and subtle handling of a situation", settled as the English word for skillful, subtle handling of a situation.