peculiar

Where does the word "peculiar" come from? It comes from Latin peculium, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).

Peculiar’s story begins in Latin: peculium meant “private property.” From 'pecus', cattle, once the measure of wealth. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as peculier. A 'peculiar' was a church outside a bishop's jurisdiction, like Westminster Abbey. It reached English by 1400s as peculiar. The sense 'odd' dates from the 1600s. Today, peculiar means strange; belonging to one person.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient peculium "private property", from 'pecus', cattle, once the measure of wealth.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval peculier "one's own", a 'peculiar' was a church outside a bishop's jurisdiction, like Westminster Abbey.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s peculiar "one's own", the sense 'odd' dates from the 1600s.