Etymology Map
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Flame

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a hot glowing body of burning gas

Where does the word "flame" come from? It comes from Latin flamma, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
flamma
Latin · ancient
"flame"
related to 'flagrare', to blaze, the root of 'flagrant'
2
Stage 2 of 3
flamme
Old French · medieval
"flame"
used of love and passion
3
Stage 3 of 3
flame
English · 1300s
"flame"
'old flame' for a former lover dates from the 1600s
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Read the full story

Flame’s story begins in Latin: flamma meant “flame.” Related to 'flagrare', to blaze, the root of 'flagrant'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as flamme. Used of love and passion. It reached English by 1300s as flame. 'old flame' for a former lover dates from the 1600s. Today, flame means a hot glowing body of burning gas.