peach

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

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.

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