meter

Where does the word "meter" come from? It comes from Greek metron, passing through French before entering English (1797).

Meter’s story begins in Greek: metron meant “a measure.” The root of 'geometry', 'symmetry' and 'diameter'. By 1790s, the word had taken hold in French as metre. Adopted in French during the Revolution's creation of the metric system. It reached English by 1797 as meter. Settled as the English spelling for the metric unit of length. Today, meter means the base unit of length in the metric system.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient metron "a measure", the root of 'geometry', 'symmetry' and 'diameter'.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1790s metre "the base unit of length in the metric system", adopted in French during the Revolution's creation of the metric system.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1797 meter "the base unit of length in the metric system", settled as the English spelling for the metric unit of length.