Etymology Map
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Peach

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a round juicy fruit with downy yellow-pink skin

Where does the word "peach" come from? It comes from Latin malum Persicum, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
malum Persicum
Latin · ancient
"Persian apple"
Romans believed the fruit came from Persia, though it was first cultivated in China
2
Stage 2 of 3
pesche
Old French · medieval
"peach"
the 'Persian' part alone survived and was worn down
3
Stage 3 of 3
peach
English · 1300s
"a soft, fuzzy stone fruit"
from the 1700s also slang for anything or anyone excellent
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Read the full story

Peach’s story begins in Latin: malum Persicum meant “Persian apple.” Romans believed the fruit came from Persia, though it was first cultivated in China. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as pesche. The 'Persian' part alone survived and was worn down. It reached English by 1300s as peach. From the 1700s also slang for anything or anyone excellent. Today, peach means a round juicy fruit with downy yellow-pink skin.