plaque

Where does the word "plaque" come from? It comes from Middle Dutch placke, passing through French before entering English (1860s).

Plaque’s story begins in Middle Dutch: placke meant “a flat piece, a patch.” A flat piece, a patch, describing a flat decorative or informational panel. By 1600s, the word had taken hold in French as plaque. Carried into French for a flat commemorative panel. It reached English by 1860s as plaque. Settled as the English word for a commemorative flat panel, later dental buildup. Today, plaque means a flat commemorative panel, or a sticky film that builds up on teeth.

1. Stage 1 · Middle Dutch · medieval placke "a flat piece, a patch", a flat piece, a patch, describing a flat decorative or informational panel.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1600s plaque "a flat commemorative panel", carried into French for a flat commemorative panel.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1860s plaque "a flat commemorative panel, or a buildup on teeth", settled as the English word for a commemorative flat panel, later dental buildup.