Etymology Map
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Perch

3 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means a freshwater fish with spiny fins

Where does the word "perch" come from? It comes from Greek perkē, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
perkē
Greek · ancient
"perch"
a Greek fish name, possibly from 'perknos', dark-spotted
2
Stage 2 of 3
perche
Old French · medieval
"perch"
came via Latin 'perca'
3
Stage 3 of 3
perch
English · 1300s
"freshwater fish"
unrelated to 'perch', a bird's roost, from Latin 'pertica', pole
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Read the full story

Perch’s story begins in Greek: perkē meant “perch.” A Greek fish name, possibly from 'perknos', dark-spotted. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as perche. Came via Latin 'perca'. It reached English by 1300s as perch. Unrelated to 'perch', a bird's roost, from Latin 'pertica', pole. Today, perch means a freshwater fish with spiny fins.