parapet

Where does the word "parapet" come from? It comes from Latin pectus, passing through Italian and French before entering English (1580s).

Parapet’s story begins in Latin: pectus meant “breast, chest.” A plain word for the chest or breast. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Italian as petto. Kept the sense of the breast. By medieval, Italian speakers had reshaped it into parapetto. Para- 'defense' plus petto 'breast' - a wall built breast-high for protection. French picked it up next, as parapet, around 1500s. Italian 'parapetto', from 'parare', to guard, plus 'petto', breast: a chest-high wall. It reached English by 1580s as parapet. Adopted for a low protective wall along a roof, bridge, or rampart. Today, parapet means a low protective wall along the edge of a roof, bridge, or fortification.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient pectus "breast, chest", a plain word for the chest or breast.
2. Stage 2 · Italian · medieval petto "breast, chest", kept the sense of the breast.
3. Stage 3 · Italian · medieval parapetto "a breast-high defensive wall", para- 'defense' plus petto 'breast' - a wall built breast-high for protection.
4. Stage 4 · French · 1500s parapet "a defensive breastwork", Italian 'parapetto', from 'parare', to guard, plus 'petto', breast: a chest-high wall.
5. Stage 5 · English · 1580s parapet "a low protective wall", adopted for a low protective wall along a roof, bridge, or rampart.