frontier

Where does the word "frontier" come from? It comes from Latin frons, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).

Frontier’s story begins in Latin: frons meant “forehead.” The root of 'front' and 'confront'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as frontiere. The front of an army. It reached English by 1400s as frontier. The American 'frontier' dates from the 1800s. Today, frontier means a border between two countries.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient frons "forehead", the root of 'front' and 'confront'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval frontiere "front line", the front of an army.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s frontier "border", the American 'frontier' dates from the 1800s.