hazard

Where does the word "hazard" come from? It comes from Arabic az-zahr, passing through Old Spanish and Old French before entering English (medieval).

Hazard’s story begins in Arabic: az-zahr meant “the die, dice.” Meaning "the die" (for playing dice). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old Spanish as azar. Adopted for a dice game, and later, chance itself. From there it passed into Old French as hasard by medieval. Spread to mean chance or risk more generally. It reached English by medieval as hazard. Settled to mean a source of danger or risk. Today, hazard means a danger or risk, or a source of potential harm.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval az-zahr "the die, dice", meaning "the die" (for playing dice).
2. Stage 2 · Old Spanish · medieval azar "chance, a dice game", adopted for a dice game, and later, chance itself.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval hasard "chance, risk", spread to mean chance or risk more generally.
4. Stage 4 · English · medieval hazard "a danger or risk", settled to mean a source of danger or risk.