liter

Where does the word "liter" come from? It comes from Greek litra, passing through French before entering English (1810).

Liter’s story begins in Greek: litra meant “a unit of weight.” A unit of weight, later adapted for a unit of liquid volume. By 1790s, the word had taken hold in French as litre. Adopted in French during the Revolution's creation of the metric system. It reached English by 1810 as liter. Settled as the English spelling for the metric unit of liquid volume. Today, liter means a metric unit of volume, especially for liquids.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient litra "a unit of weight", a unit of weight, later adapted for a unit of liquid volume.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1790s litre "the base unit of volume in the metric system", adopted in French during the Revolution's creation of the metric system.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1810 liter "the base unit of volume in the metric system", settled as the English spelling for the metric unit of liquid volume.