forfeit

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

Forfeit’s story begins in Medieval Latin: foris facere meant “to transgress.” 'foris', outside, plus 'facere', to do: to act beyond the law. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as forfait. First the crime, then the penalty. It reached English by 1300s as forfeit. Games of 'forfeits' date from the 1700s. Today, forfeit means to lose something as a penalty.

1. Stage 1 · Medieval Latin · medieval foris facere "to transgress", 'foris', outside, plus 'facere', to do: to act beyond the law.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval forfait "crime; penalty", first the crime, then the penalty.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s forfeit "penalty", games of 'forfeits' date from the 1700s.