Etymology Map
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Foliage

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means the leaves of plants

Where does the word "foliage" come from? It comes from Latin folium, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
folium
Latin · ancient
"leaf"
the root of 'folio' and 'foil'
2
Stage 2 of 3
foillage
Old French · medieval
"leaves"
from 'feuille', leaf
3
Stage 3 of 3
foliage
English · 1400s
"leaves"
'foliage plants' date from the 1800s
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Read the full story

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.