Etymology Map
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Margin

2 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means the edge of a page; a profit amount

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

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

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.