hidalgo

Where does the word "hidalgo" come from? It comes from Old Spanish fijo d'algo, passing through Spanish before entering English (1590s).

Hidalgo’s story begins in Old Spanish: fijo d'algo meant “son of wealth.” 'son of something', i.e. of property. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in Spanish as hidalgo. Don Quixote is a poor hidalgo of La Mancha. It reached English by 1590s as hidalgo. Borrowed in accounts of Spain. Today, hidalgo means a member of the lower Spanish nobility.

1. Stage 1 · Old Spanish · medieval fijo d'algo "son of wealth", 'son of something', i.e. of property.
2. Stage 2 · Spanish · 1500s hidalgo "minor noble", Don Quixote is a poor hidalgo of La Mancha.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1590s hidalgo "Spanish noble", borrowed in accounts of Spain.