gourmet

Where does the word "gourmet" come from? It comes from Old French groumet, passing through French before entering English (1800s).

Gourmet’s story begins in Old French: groumet meant “a wine merchant's servant.” Originally a wine merchant's assistant or servant. By 1700s, the word had taken hold in French as gourmet. Narrowed to mean a connoisseur of fine food and wine. It reached English by 1800s as gourmet. Old French 'groumet' was a wine merchant's servant who tasted the wine. Today, gourmet means a connoisseur of fine food and drink, or the food itself.

1. Stage 1 · Old French · medieval groumet "a wine merchant's servant", originally a wine merchant's assistant or servant.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1700s gourmet "a connoisseur of fine food", narrowed to mean a connoisseur of fine food and wine.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1800s gourmet "a person with refined taste in food and drink", Old French 'groumet' was a wine merchant's servant who tasted the wine.