male

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

Male’s story begins in Latin: masculus meant “male.” A diminutive of 'mas', male, the root of 'masculine'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as masle. The s was lost in French. It reached English by 1300s as male. 'male' and 'female' are unrelated in origin. Today, male means of the sex that fathers young.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient masculus "male", a diminutive of 'mas', male, the root of 'masculine'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval masle "male", the s was lost in French.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s male "man", 'male' and 'female' are unrelated in origin.