milliner

Where does the word "milliner" come from? It comes from Italian Milano, and was adopted directly into English (1500s).

Milliner’s story begins in Italian: Milano meant “the city of Milan.” The city of Milan, famous for exporting fine fabric, ribbons, and straw hats. It reached English by 1500s as millaner. Settled as the English word for a seller of fine hats and fashionable items from Milan. Today, milliner means a person who designs, makes, or sells women's hats.

1. Stage 1 · Italian · medieval Milano "the city of Milan", the city of Milan, famous for exporting fine fabric, ribbons, and straw hats.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1500s millaner "a maker or seller of women's hats", settled as the English word for a seller of fine hats and fashionable items from Milan.