manta

Where does the word "manta" come from? It comes from Latin mantellum, passing through Spanish before entering English (1600s).

Manta’s story begins in Latin: mantellum meant “cloak.” A cloak, the root of 'mantle' and 'mantilla'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Spanish as manta. A blanket or cloak; sailors compared the great flat ray to a spread blanket. It reached English by 1600s as manta. 'manta ray' is recorded in English from the late 1600s. Today, manta means a very large flat ray with wing-like fins.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient mantellum "cloak", a cloak, the root of 'mantle' and 'mantilla'.
2. Stage 2 · Spanish · medieval manta "blanket, cloak", a blanket or cloak; sailors compared the great flat ray to a spread blanket.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1600s manta "manta ray", 'manta ray' is recorded in English from the late 1600s.