pamphlet

Where does the word "pamphlet" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin Pamphilus, passing through Middle English before entering English (1500s).

Pamphlet’s story begins in Medieval Latin: Pamphilus meant “Pamphilus.” A popular 12th-century Latin love poem, copied as a small booklet. By 1300s, the word had taken hold in Middle English as Pamphilet. The name of the poem as a small book. It reached English by 1500s as pamphlet. Political pamphlets flourished in the 1600s. Today, pamphlet means a small booklet.

1. Stage 1 · Medieval Latin · medieval Pamphilus "Pamphilus", a popular 12th-century Latin love poem, copied as a small booklet.
2. Stage 2 · Middle English · 1300s Pamphilet "little Pamphilus", the name of the poem as a small book.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s pamphlet "small book", political pamphlets flourished in the 1600s.