pilgrim

Where does the word "pilgrim" come from? It comes from Latin peregrinus, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

Pilgrim’s story begins in Latin: peregrinus meant “a foreigner, a traveler.” A foreigner, a traveler, from per- (through) and ager (field, land). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as pelegrin. Carried into French for a traveler on a religious journey. It reached English by 1200s as pilgrim. Settled as the English word for someone journeying to a sacred place. Today, pilgrim means a person who journeys to a sacred place for religious reasons.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient peregrinus "a foreigner, a traveler", a foreigner, a traveler, from per- (through) and ager (field, land).
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval pelegrin "a religious traveler", carried into French for a traveler on a religious journey.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s pilgrim "a person who travels to a sacred place for religious reasons", settled as the English word for someone journeying to a sacred place.