point

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

Point’s story begins in Latin: pungere meant “to prick, to pierce.” The root of 'punctual', 'punctuate' and 'puncture'. Within Latin, it grew into punctum by ancient. A prick, a small mark, from pungere. From there it passed into Old French as point by medieval. Carried into French for a sharp end, or a precise location. It reached English by 1200s as point. Settled as the English word for a sharp end, a precise spot, or a main idea. Today, point means a sharp tip, a precise location, or the main idea of something.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient pungere "to prick, to pierce", the root of 'punctual', 'punctuate' and 'puncture'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient punctum "a prick, a small mark", a prick, a small mark, from pungere.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval point "a sharp end, or a precise location", carried into French for a sharp end, or a precise location.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1200s point "a sharp end, a precise spot, or a main idea", settled as the English word for a sharp end, a precise spot, or a main idea.