mount

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

Mount’s story begins in Latin: mons meant “mountain.” The root of 'mountain' and 'promontory'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as monter. 'to mount' a horse means to climb it. It reached English by 1300s as mount. 'mount' as a mountain name, as in Mount Everest, keeps the Latin sense. Today, mount means to climb up; to set in place.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient mons "mountain", the root of 'mountain' and 'promontory'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval monter "to climb", 'to mount' a horse means to climb it.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s mount "to climb", 'mount' as a mountain name, as in Mount Everest, keeps the Latin sense.