Etymology Map
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Fossil

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means the remains of a prehistoric organism in rock

Where does the word "fossil" come from? It comes from Latin fossilis, passing through French before entering English (1610s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
fossilis
Latin · ancient
"dug up"
from 'fodere', to dig
2
Stage 2 of 3
fossile
French · 1500s
"dug up"
anything dug from the earth
3
Stage 3 of 3
fossil
English · 1610s
"dug-up object"
the sense of preserved remains of life dates from the 1700s
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Read the full story

Fossil’s story begins in Latin: fossilis meant “dug up.” From 'fodere', to dig. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in French as fossile. Anything dug from the earth. It reached English by 1610s as fossil. The sense of preserved remains of life dates from the 1700s. Today, fossil means the remains of a prehistoric organism in rock.