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Where does the word "interval" come from? It comes from Latin intervallum, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
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Where does the word "interval" come from? It comes from Latin intervallum, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Interval’s story begins in Latin: intervallum meant “space between ramparts.” 'inter', between, plus 'vallum', rampart. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as entreval. Roman soldiers used 'intervallum' for the space between rampart and barracks. It reached English by 1300s as interval. Theatre 'intervals' date from the 1900s. Today, interval means an intervening time or space.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient intervallum "space between ramparts", 'inter', between, plus 'vallum', rampart.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval entreval "interval", Roman soldiers used 'intervallum' for the space between rampart and barracks.
- Stage 3 · English · 1300s interval "gap", theatre 'intervals' date from the 1900s.