potpourri

Where does the word "potpourri" come from? It comes from French pot pourri, passing through French before entering English (1700s).

Potpourri’s story begins in French: pot pourri meant “a mixed stew.” Literally "rotten pot", originally a stew of many mixed ingredients. Within French, it grew into potpourri by 1700s. Extended to a jar of dried, mixed flower petals. It reached English by 1700s as potpourri. French 'rotten pot', a stew of mixed meats; the scented-petals sense came later. Today, potpourri means a mixture of dried petals and spices used for scent, or any varied collection.

1. Stage 1 · French · 1600s pot pourri "a mixed stew", literally "rotten pot", originally a stew of many mixed ingredients.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1700s potpourri "a mix of dried, scented flower petals", extended to a jar of dried, mixed flower petals.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1700s potpourri "a mixture of dried petals, or any varied collection", French 'rotten pot', a stew of mixed meats; the scented-petals sense came later.