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Where does the word "palette" come from? It comes from Latin pala, passing through French before entering English (1620s).
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Where does the word "palette" come from? It comes from Latin pala, passing through French before entering English (1620s).
Palette’s story begins in Latin: pala meant “spade.” A Latin word for a spade or shovel. By 1600s, the word had taken hold in French as palette. A diminutive; later a painter's board. It reached English by 1620s as palette. 'colour palette' dates from the 1800s. Today, palette means a board for mixing paints; a range of colours.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient pala "spade", a Latin word for a spade or shovel.
- Stage 2 · French · 1600s palette "small shovel", a diminutive; later a painter's board.
- Stage 3 · English · 1620s palette "painter's board", 'colour palette' dates from the 1800s.