herald

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

Herald’s story begins in Frankish: hariwald meant “army commander.” A compound of 'hari', army, and 'wald', rule, like the name Harold. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as heraut. Officers who carried messages between armies and managed coats of arms at tournaments. It reached English by 1300s as herald. Heraldry, the study of coats of arms, is named after them. Today, herald means an official messenger; something that signals what is coming.

1. Stage 1 · Frankish · ancient hariwald "army commander", a compound of 'hari', army, and 'wald', rule, like the name Harold.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval heraut "messenger; officer of arms", officers who carried messages between armies and managed coats of arms at tournaments.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s herald "a messenger; a sign of something to come", heraldry, the study of coats of arms, is named after them.