Etymology Map
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Forfeit

3 stages from Medieval Latin to English.

Today it means to lose something as a penalty

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

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

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.