Etymology Map
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Juice

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means the liquid in fruit or vegetables; a drink made from it

Where does the word "juice" come from? It comes from Latin ius, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
ius
Latin · classical
"broth, sauce"
'broth, sauce'; Cicero punned on it against Verres, whose name meant 'boar': 'ius Verrinum' was both Verrine justice and boar gravy
2
Stage 2 of 3
jus
Old French · 1200s
"juice, gravy"
juice or cooking liquid, still seen in 'au jus'
3
Stage 3 of 3
juice
English · 1300s
"liquid from fruit"
orange juice became an American breakfast staple through the California growers' 'Drink an Orange' campaign of 1916
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Read the full story

Juice’s story begins in Latin: ius meant “broth, sauce.” 'broth, sauce'; Cicero punned on it against Verres, whose name meant 'boar': 'ius Verrinum' was both Verrine justice and boar gravy. By 1200s, the word had taken hold in Old French as jus. Juice or cooking liquid, still seen in 'au jus'. It reached English by 1300s as juice. Orange juice became an American breakfast staple through the California growers' 'Drink an Orange' campaign of 1916. Today, juice means the liquid in fruit or vegetables; a drink made from it.