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Where does the word "pony" come from? It comes from Latin pullus, passing through Old French before entering English (1650s).
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Where does the word "pony" come from? It comes from Latin pullus, passing through Old French before entering English (1650s).
Pony’s story begins in Latin: pullus meant “young animal.” The root of 'poultry'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as poulenet. A diminutive of 'poulain', foal. It reached English by 1650s as pony. First recorded in Scots English. Today, pony means a small breed of horse.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient pullus "young animal", the root of 'poultry'.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval poulenet "little colt", a diminutive of 'poulain', foal.
- Stage 3 · English · 1650s pony "a small horse", first recorded in Scots English.