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Where does the word "garment" come from? It comes from Frankish warnjan, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
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Where does the word "garment" come from? It comes from Frankish warnjan, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Garment’s story begins in Frankish: warnjan meant “to protect.” A Frankish word related to 'warn'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as garnement. From 'garnir', to equip, the root of 'garnish'. It reached English by 1300s as garment. Used in the Bible's 'hem of his garment'. Today, garment means an item of clothing.
- Stage 1 · Frankish · ancient warnjan "to protect", a Frankish word related to 'warn'.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval garnement "equipment, clothing", from 'garnir', to equip, the root of 'garnish'.
- Stage 3 · English · 1300s garment "clothing", used in the Bible's 'hem of his garment'.