haunt

Where does the word "haunt" come from? It comes from Frankish haimetan, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

Haunt’s story begins in Frankish: haimetan meant “to house, bring home.” A Frankish word related to English 'home'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as hanter. English 'home' shares the Germanic root. It reached English by 1200s as haunt. Ghosts 'haunting' a place dates from the 1500s. Today, haunt means to visit as a ghost; to frequent a place.

1. Stage 1 · Frankish · ancient haimetan "to house, bring home", a Frankish word related to English 'home'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval hanter "to frequent", English 'home' shares the Germanic root.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s haunt "to frequent", ghosts 'haunting' a place dates from the 1500s.