Etymology Map
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Grape

3 stages from Frankish to English.

Today it means a small juicy fruit growing in bunches on a vine

Where does the word "grape" come from? It comes from Frankish krappô, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
krappô
Frankish · ancient
"hook"
a hook, the same root as 'grapple'
2
Stage 2 of 3
grape
Old French · medieval
"bunch of grapes"
first a hooked vine-knife, then the bunch cut with it
3
Stage 3 of 3
grape
English · 1200s
"a single berry of the vine"
replaced Old English 'winberie', wine-berry
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Read the full story

Grape’s story begins in Frankish: krappô meant “hook.” A hook, the same root as 'grapple'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as grape. First a hooked vine-knife, then the bunch cut with it. It reached English by 1200s as grape. Replaced Old English 'winberie', wine-berry. Today, grape means a small juicy fruit growing in bunches on a vine.