EtymologyMap
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Today it means

margin

the edge of a page; a profit amount

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Where does the word "margin" come from? It comes from Latin margo, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Read the full story

Where does the word "margin" come from? It comes from Latin margo, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Margin’s story begins in Latin: margo meant “edge.” Related to 'mark' and 'march', a border. It reached English by 1300s as margin. Profit 'margins' date from the 1800s. Today, margin means the edge of a page; a profit amount.

  1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient margo "edge", related to 'mark' and 'march', a border.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1300s margin "edge", profit 'margins' date from the 1800s.

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