Etymology Map
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Fruit

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means the sweet, seed-bearing part of a plant

Where does the word "fruit" come from? It comes from Latin fructus, passing through Old French before entering English (1100s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
fructus
Latin · ancient
"enjoyment, produce"
from 'frui', to enjoy
2
Stage 2 of 3
fruit
Old French · medieval
"fruit"
any produce of the earth
3
Stage 3 of 3
fruit
English · 1100s
"produce of plants"
'fruitful' and 'fruition' followed
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Read the full story

Fruit’s story begins in Latin: fructus meant “enjoyment, produce.” From 'frui', to enjoy. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as fruit. Any produce of the earth. It reached English by 1100s as fruit. 'fruitful' and 'fruition' followed. Today, fruit means the sweet, seed-bearing part of a plant.