pretzel

Where does the word "pretzel" come from? It comes from Latin bracchiatus, passing through Old High German and German before entering English (1800s).

Pretzel’s story begins in Latin: bracchiatus meant “having arms/branches.” Literally "having arms", describing the twisted shape. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old High German as brezitella. Monks are said to have shaped the bread to look like folded arms. From there it passed into German as Brezel by 1500s. Became a staple of Southern German baking. It reached English by 1800s as pretzel. Brought to America by German immigrant bakers. Today, pretzel means a crisp or chewy twisted bread snack, often salted.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient bracchiatus "having arms/branches", literally "having arms", describing the twisted shape.
2. Stage 2 · Old High German · medieval brezitella "a twisted bread", monks are said to have shaped the bread to look like folded arms.
3. Stage 3 · German · 1500s Brezel "a twisted baked bread", became a staple of Southern German baking.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1800s pretzel "a twisted salted bread snack", brought to America by German immigrant bakers.