Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Drag to rotate
Tracing “”…
Where does the word "portal" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin porta, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Read the full story
Where does the word "portal" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin porta, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Portal’s story begins in Medieval Latin: porta meant “gate.” The root of 'port' and 'porch'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as portal. A grand entrance. It reached English by 1300s as portal. Internet 'portals' date from the 1990s. Today, portal means a doorway or gate.
- Stage 1 · Medieval Latin · medieval porta "gate", the root of 'port' and 'porch'.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval portal "gate", a grand entrance.
- Stage 3 · English · 1300s portal "door", internet 'portals' date from the 1990s.