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Grenade

4 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a small explosive device thrown by hand or launched

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

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