race

Where does the word "race" come from? It comes from Old Norse ras, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Race’s story begins in Old Norse: ras meant “a rushing, a running.” A rush, a running, describing swift movement. It reached English by 1300s as race. Settled as the English word for a contest of speed. Today, race means a competition to see who or what is fastest.

1. Stage 1 · Old Norse · medieval ras "a rushing, a running", a rush, a running, describing swift movement.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1300s race "a competition of speed", settled as the English word for a contest of speed.