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Where does the word "mine" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin mina, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
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Where does the word "mine" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin mina, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Mine’s story begins in Medieval Latin: mina meant “vein of ore.” Possibly a Celtic word, like Welsh 'mwyn', ore. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as mine. A tunnel for digging ore. It reached English by 1300s as mine. Explosive 'mines' come from tunnels dug under walls. Today, mine means an excavation for minerals; an explosive device.
- Stage 1 · Medieval Latin · medieval mina "vein of ore", possibly a Celtic word, like Welsh 'mwyn', ore.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval mine "mine", a tunnel for digging ore.
- Stage 3 · English · 1300s mine "excavation", explosive 'mines' come from tunnels dug under walls.