manufacture

Where does the word "manufacture" come from? It comes from Latin manus, passing through Medieval Latin and French before entering English (1560s).

Manufacture’s story begins in Latin: manus meant “hand.” Hand, combined with factura (a making) from facere (to make). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Medieval Latin as manufactura. 'made by hand' became the word for factory production. From there it passed into French as manufacture by 1500s. The process of making something, especially by hand. It reached English by 1560s as manufacture. Settled as the English word for making goods, originally by hand. Today, manufacture means to make goods on a large scale using machinery.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient manus "hand", hand, combined with factura (a making) from facere (to make).
2. Stage 2 · Medieval Latin · medieval manufactura "a making by hand", 'made by hand' became the word for factory production.
3. Stage 3 · French · 1500s manufacture "process of making", the process of making something, especially by hand.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1560s manufacture "to make goods, especially on a large scale", settled as the English word for making goods, originally by hand.