EtymologyMap
Back to all words

Trace the journey of words

Today it means

fresco

a painting technique in which pigment is applied to wet plaster

Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Drag to rotate

Where does the word "fresco" come from? It comes from Italian affresco, and was adopted directly into English (1600s).

Read the full story

Where does the word "fresco" come from? It comes from Italian affresco, and was adopted directly into English (1600s).

Fresco’s story begins in Italian: affresco meant “fresh (plaster).” Literally "fresh", describing painting on wet plaster. It reached English by 1600s as fresco. Italian 'fresh', since pigment is laid on fresh wet plaster; Michelangelo's Sistine ceiling is fresco. Today, fresco means a painting technique in which pigment is applied to wet plaster.

  1. Stage 1 · Italian · medieval affresco "fresh (plaster)", literally "fresh", describing painting on wet plaster.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1600s fresco "a painting made on wet plaster", Italian 'fresh', since pigment is laid on fresh wet plaster; Michelangelo's Sistine ceiling is fresco.

Browse by origin