pork

Where does the word "pork" come from? It comes from Latin porcus, passing through Old French before entering English (medieval).

Pork’s story begins in Latin: porcus meant “pig.” The Latin word for pig. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as porc. Brought to England by Norman rulers. It reached English by medieval as pork. Adopted for the meat, while "pig" stayed the native English word for the animal. Today, pork means the meat from pigs.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient porcus "pig", the Latin word for pig.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval porc "pig, pork", brought to England by Norman rulers.
3. Stage 3 · English · medieval pork "the meat of pigs", adopted for the meat, while "pig" stayed the native English word for the animal.