motto

Where does the word "motto" come from? It comes from Late Latin muttum, passing through Italian before entering English (1500s-1600s).

Motto’s story begins in Late Latin: muttum meant “a word, utterance.” Meaning "a grunt" or "a word". By medieval, the word had taken hold in Italian as motto. Came to mean a short guiding phrase. It reached English by 1500s-1600s as motto. Italian 'word', used for the short sentence on a heraldic crest. Today, motto means a short phrase expressing a guiding principle or belief.

1. Stage 1 · Late Latin · ancient muttum "a word, utterance", meaning "a grunt" or "a word".
2. Stage 2 · Italian · medieval motto "a guiding phrase", came to mean a short guiding phrase.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s-1600s motto "a short phrase expressing a guiding belief", Italian 'word', used for the short sentence on a heraldic crest.