Etymology Map
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Powder

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means fine dry particles

Where does the word "powder" come from? It comes from Latin pulvis, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
pulvis
Latin · ancient
"dust"
the root of 'pulverize'
2
Stage 2 of 3
poudre
Old French · medieval
"dust, powder"
gunpowder arrived in Europe in the 1200s
3
Stage 3 of 3
powder
English · 1300s
"dust"
'powder room' dates from the 1930s
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Read the full story

Powder’s story begins in Latin: pulvis meant “dust.” The root of 'pulverize'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as poudre. Gunpowder arrived in Europe in the 1200s. It reached English by 1300s as powder. 'powder room' dates from the 1930s. Today, powder means fine dry particles.