porch

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

Porch’s story begins in Latin: porticus meant “colonnade.” From 'porta', gate; the root of 'portico'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as porche. A covered area before a church door. It reached English by 1200s as porch. American 'porch' means a veranda. Today, porch means a covered shelter at the entrance to a building.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient porticus "colonnade", from 'porta', gate; the root of 'portico'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval porche "covered entrance", a covered area before a church door.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s porch "a covered entrance", American 'porch' means a veranda.