hamlet

Where does the word "hamlet" come from? It comes from Frankish haim, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Hamlet’s story begins in Frankish: haim meant “home, village.” A Frankish word, the same root as English 'home'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as hamelet. A double diminutive of 'ham'. It reached English by 1300s as hamlet. Shakespeare's Hamlet is from the Danish name Amleth, not this word. Today, hamlet means a small settlement.

1. Stage 1 · Frankish · ancient haim "home, village", a Frankish word, the same root as English 'home'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval hamelet "small village", a double diminutive of 'ham'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s hamlet "small village", Shakespeare's Hamlet is from the Danish name Amleth, not this word.