range

Where does the word "range" come from? It comes from Frankish hring, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Range’s story begins in Frankish: hring meant “ring.” A Frankish word related to 'rank' and 'ring'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as range. A line of things. It reached English by 1300s as range. Mountain 'ranges' and cooking 'ranges' followed. Today, range means a set of things; a line of mountains.

1. Stage 1 · Frankish · ancient hring "ring", a Frankish word related to 'rank' and 'ring'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval range "row, rank", a line of things.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s range "row", mountain 'ranges' and cooking 'ranges' followed.