Etymology Map
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Grocery

3 stages from Late Latin to English.

Today it means a shop selling food and household goods

Where does the word "grocery" come from? It comes from Late Latin grossus, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
grossus
Late Latin · ancient
"thick, bulky"
the root of 'gross'
2
Stage 2 of 3
grossier
Old French · medieval
"wholesaler"
a merchant who sold in bulk, 'en gros'
3
Stage 3 of 3
grocery
English · 1400s
"wholesale trade"
'groceries' as food items date from the 1600s
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Read the full story

Grocery’s story begins in Late Latin: grossus meant “thick, bulky.” The root of 'gross'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as grossier. A merchant who sold in bulk, 'en gros'. It reached English by 1400s as grocery. 'groceries' as food items date from the 1600s. Today, grocery means a shop selling food and household goods.