Etymology Map
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Haste

3 stages from Frankish to English.

Today it means excessive speed or urgency

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

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

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.