Etymology Map
Back to all words

Palette

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a board for mixing paints; a range of colours

Where does the word "palette" come from? It comes from Latin pala, passing through French before entering English (1620s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
pala
Latin · ancient
"spade"
a Latin word for a spade or shovel
2
Stage 2 of 3
palette
French · 1600s
"small shovel"
a diminutive; later a painter's board
3
Stage 3 of 3
palette
English · 1620s
"painter's board"
'colour palette' dates from the 1800s
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Read the full story

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.