mosaic

Where does the word "mosaic" come from? It comes from Greek mouseios, passing through Medieval Latin before entering English (1500s).

Mosaic’s story begins in Greek: mouseios meant “relating to the Muses.” Relating to the Muses, associated with artistic works. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Medieval Latin as mosaicum. Applied to decorative work made of small colored pieces. It reached English by 1500s as mosaic. Settled as the English word for the decorative art form. Today, mosaic means a picture or pattern made by arranging small colored pieces.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient mouseios "relating to the Muses", relating to the Muses, associated with artistic works.
2. Stage 2 · Medieval Latin · medieval mosaicum "a picture made of small colored pieces", applied to decorative work made of small colored pieces.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s mosaic "a picture made from small colored pieces", settled as the English word for the decorative art form.