ragout

Where does the word "ragout" come from? It comes from Latin gustare, passing through Old French and French before entering English (1650s).

Ragout’s story begins in Latin: gustare meant “to taste.” The verb of tasting. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as gout. Kept the sense of taste. From there it passed into French as ragouter by 1600s. Re- plus a- plus gout, literally 'to bring back the taste' - to revive the appetite. It reached English by 1650s as ragout. Borrowed as a noun for a highly seasoned, appetite-stirring stew. Today, ragout means a highly seasoned stew of meat and vegetables.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient gustare "to taste", the verb of tasting.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval gout "taste", kept the sense of taste.
3. Stage 3 · French · 1600s ragouter "to awaken the appetite", re- plus a- plus gout, literally 'to bring back the taste' - to revive the appetite.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1650s ragout "a highly seasoned meat and vegetable stew", borrowed as a noun for a highly seasoned, appetite-stirring stew.