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Where does the word "garrison" come from? It comes from Frankish warjan, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).
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Where does the word "garrison" come from? It comes from Frankish warjan, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).
Garrison’s story begins in Frankish: warjan meant “to defend.” A Frankish word related to 'wary' and 'warn'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as garison. Protection and supplies for a fortress. It reached English by 1400s as garrison. The sense 'troops stationed in a fort' dates from the 1500s. Today, garrison means troops stationed in a town or fort.
- Stage 1 · Frankish · ancient warjan "to defend", a Frankish word related to 'wary' and 'warn'.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval garison "defence, provision", protection and supplies for a fortress.
- Stage 3 · English · 1400s garrison "defence", the sense 'troops stationed in a fort' dates from the 1500s.