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Where does the word "foliage" come from? It comes from Latin folium, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).
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Where does the word "foliage" come from? It comes from Latin folium, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).
Foliage’s story begins in Latin: folium meant “leaf.” The root of 'folio' and 'foil'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as foillage. From 'feuille', leaf. It reached English by 1400s as foliage. 'foliage plants' date from the 1800s. Today, foliage means the leaves of plants.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient folium "leaf", the root of 'folio' and 'foil'.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval foillage "leaves", from 'feuille', leaf.
- Stage 3 · English · 1400s foliage "leaves", 'foliage plants' date from the 1800s.