panache

Where does the word "panache" come from? It comes from Late Latin pinnaculum, passing through Italian and French before entering English (1500s).

Panache’s story begins in Late Latin: pinnaculum meant “a small wing or peak.” "small wing, gable, peak", from Latin pinna (feather, point). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Italian as pennacchio. A plume of feathers worn on a helmet. From there it passed into French as pennache by medieval. The French form of the Italian plume word. It reached English by 1500s as panache. Broadened from the literal plume to flamboyant confidence and style. Today, panache means flamboyant confidence of style or manner.

1. Stage 1 · Late Latin · medieval pinnaculum "a small wing or peak", "small wing, gable, peak", from Latin pinna (feather, point).
2. Stage 2 · Italian · medieval pennacchio "a feather plume", a plume of feathers worn on a helmet.
3. Stage 3 · French · medieval pennache "a tuft of feathers", the French form of the Italian plume word.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1500s panache "flamboyant confidence and stylishness", broadened from the literal plume to flamboyant confidence and style.