grenade

Where does the word "grenade" come from? It comes from Latin pomum granatum, passing through Old French and French before entering English (1590s).

Grenade’s story begins in Latin: pomum granatum meant “pomegranate.” Literally 'apple with many seeds'. By 1100s, the word had taken hold in Old French as pomegrenate. Kept the fruit's name. From there it passed into French as grenade by 1500s. The shortened fruit-name was transferred to a many-seeded explosive shell it resembled. It reached English by 1590s as grenade. Adopted specifically for the small thrown explosive. Today, grenade means a small explosive device thrown by hand or launched.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient pomum granatum "pomegranate", literally 'apple with many seeds'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · 1100s pomegrenate "pomegranate", kept the fruit's name.
3. Stage 3 · French · 1500s grenade "pomegranate; an explosive shell", the shortened fruit-name was transferred to a many-seeded explosive shell it resembled.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1590s grenade "a small explosive device thrown by hand", adopted specifically for the small thrown explosive.