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Where does the word "fountain" come from? It comes from Late Latin fontana, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).
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Where does the word "fountain" come from? It comes from Late Latin fontana, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).
Fountain’s story begins in Late Latin: fontana meant “spring.” From 'fons', spring, the root of 'font'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as fontaine. A natural spring. It reached English by 1400s as fountain. Ornamental fountains spread in the Renaissance. Today, fountain means an ornamental jet of water.
- Stage 1 · Late Latin · ancient fontana "spring", from 'fons', spring, the root of 'font'.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval fontaine "spring, fountain", a natural spring.
- Stage 3 · English · 1400s fountain "spring", ornamental fountains spread in the Renaissance.