hospital

Where does the word "hospital" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin hospitale, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

Hospital’s story begins in Medieval Latin: hospitale meant “a place of hospitality.” Relating to a guest, a place offering shelter to travelers and the sick. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as hospital. Carried into French for a shelter caring for the sick and needy. It reached English by 1200s as hospital. Narrowed to mean specifically a place for medical treatment. Today, hospital means an institution providing medical and surgical treatment.

1. Stage 1 · Medieval Latin · medieval hospitale "a place of hospitality", relating to a guest, a place offering shelter to travelers and the sick.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval hospital "a shelter for the sick and needy", carried into French for a shelter caring for the sick and needy.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s hospital "an institution providing medical treatment", narrowed to mean specifically a place for medical treatment.