panzer

Where does the word "panzer" come from? It comes from Old French pancier, passing through German before entering English (1940).

Panzer’s story begins in Old French: pancier meant “belly armour.” A coat of mail protecting the belly, from Latin 'pantex', belly. By medieval, the word had taken hold in German as Panzer. Armour. It reached English by 1940 as panzer. The Panzer divisions of the Second World War made it familiar. Today, panzer means a German armoured vehicle or division.

1. Stage 1 · Old French · medieval pancier "belly armour", a coat of mail protecting the belly, from Latin 'pantex', belly.
2. Stage 2 · German · medieval Panzer "armour", armour.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1940 panzer "armoured unit", the Panzer divisions of the Second World War made it familiar.