pupil

Where does the word "pupil" come from? It comes from Latin pupilla, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).

Pupil’s story begins in Latin: pupilla meant “little doll.” Little doll, diminutive of pupa, from the tiny reflected image seen in someone's eye. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as pupille. Carried into French for the opening in the center of the eye. It reached English by 1400s as pupil. Settled as the English word for the opening in the eye that lets in light. Today, pupil means the dark, circular opening in the center of the eye that regulates the amount of light entering.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient pupilla "little doll", little doll, diminutive of pupa, from the tiny reflected image seen in someone's eye.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval pupille "the opening in the center of the eye", carried into French for the opening in the center of the eye.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s pupil "the opening in the eye that lets in light", settled as the English word for the opening in the eye that lets in light.