Etymology Map
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Quarrel

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means an angry argument

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
querella
Latin · ancient
"complaint"
from 'queri', to complain
2
Stage 2 of 3
querele
Old French · medieval
"legal complaint"
a formal accusation in court
3
Stage 3 of 3
quarrel
English · 1300s
"complaint"
the sense 'angry dispute' grew from the legal one
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Read the full story

Quarrel’s story begins in Latin: querella meant “complaint.” From 'queri', to complain. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as querele. A formal accusation in court. It reached English by 1300s as quarrel. The sense 'angry dispute' grew from the legal one. Today, quarrel means an angry argument.