gravel

Where does the word "gravel" come from? It comes from Gaulish grava, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

Gravel’s story begins in Gaulish: grava meant “gravel, sand.” A Gaulish word; the root also of 'grave' as a shore. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as gravele. A diminutive of 'grave', sandy shore. It reached English by 1200s as gravel. 'gravelly' voice dates from the 1800s. Today, gravel means small loose stones.

1. Stage 1 · Gaulish · ancient grava "gravel, sand", a Gaulish word; the root also of 'grave' as a shore.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval gravele "small stones", a diminutive of 'grave', sandy shore.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s gravel "small stones", 'gravelly' voice dates from the 1800s.