haste

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

Haste’s story begins in Frankish: haifsts meant “violence, strife.” A Frankish word; Old English had a cognate 'hæst'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as haste. Applied to hurried movement. It reached English by 1300s as haste. 'more haste, less speed' is a proverb from the 1300s. Today, haste means excessive speed or urgency.

1. Stage 1 · Frankish · ancient haifsts "violence, strife", a Frankish word; Old English had a cognate 'hæst'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval haste "speed, urgency", applied to hurried movement.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s haste "hurry", 'more haste, less speed' is a proverb from the 1300s.