gazette

Where does the word "gazette" come from? It comes from Venetian Italian gazzetta, passing through French before entering English (1600s).

Gazette’s story begins in Venetian Italian: gazzetta meant “a small coin; a news-sheet.” The small coin that was the price of admission to hear the news read aloud. By 1600s, the word had taken hold in French as gazette. Adopted for a printed news publication. It reached English by 1600s as gazette. Venetian 'gazeta', a small coin, the price of a news sheet; the London Gazette began in 1665. Today, gazette means a newspaper or official journal, especially one containing public notices.

1. Stage 1 · Venetian Italian · 1500s gazzetta "a small coin; a news-sheet", the small coin that was the price of admission to hear the news read aloud.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1600s gazette "a newspaper", adopted for a printed news publication.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1600s gazette "an official newspaper or journal", Venetian 'gazeta', a small coin, the price of a news sheet; the London Gazette began in 1665.