gram

Where does the word "gram" come from? It comes from Greek gramma, passing through French before entering English (1797).

Gram’s story begins in Greek: gramma meant “a small weight, a letter.” A small weight, or a written letter. By 1790s, the word had taken hold in French as gramme. Adopted in French during the Revolution's creation of the metric system. It reached English by 1797 as gram. Settled as the English spelling for the small metric unit of mass. Today, gram means a metric unit of mass, equal to one thousandth of a kilogram.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient gramma "a small weight, a letter", a small weight, or a written letter.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1790s gramme "the base unit of mass in the metric system", adopted in French during the Revolution's creation of the metric system.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1797 gram "the base unit of mass in the metric system", settled as the English spelling for the small metric unit of mass.