mint

Where does the word "mint" come from? It comes from Latin menta, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Mint’s story begins in Latin: menta meant “mint plant.” From Greek 'minthē', named for a nymph turned into the plant. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as mente. Reinforced an Old English borrowing, 'minte'. It reached English by 1300s as mint. 'mint' for coinage is a different word, from Latin 'moneta'. Today, mint means an aromatic plant used for flavouring.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient menta "mint plant", from Greek 'minthē', named for a nymph turned into the plant.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval mente "mint", reinforced an Old English borrowing, 'minte'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s mint "the herb", 'mint' for coinage is a different word, from Latin 'moneta'.