mutiny

Where does the word "mutiny" come from? It comes from Latin movere, passing through Old French and Middle French before entering English (1500s).

Mutiny’s story begins in Latin: movere meant “to move, to stir up.” The root of 'motion', 'mobile' and 'motor'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as meute. A revolt, a pack, from a form related to movoir (to move, to stir up). From there it passed into Middle French as mutine by medieval. Rebellious, stirred to revolt, from meute. It reached English by 1500s as mutiny. Settled as the English word for an open rebellion against authority, especially at sea. Today, mutiny means an open rebellion against a lawful authority, especially by sailors against officers.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient movere "to move, to stir up", the root of 'motion', 'mobile' and 'motor'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval meute "a revolt, an uprising", a revolt, a pack, from a form related to movoir (to move, to stir up).
3. Stage 3 · Middle French · medieval mutine "rebellious, stirred to revolt", rebellious, stirred to revolt, from meute.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1500s mutiny "an open rebellion against authority, especially aboard a ship", settled as the English word for an open rebellion against authority, especially at sea.