Etymology Map
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Range

3 stages from Frankish to English.

Today it means a set of things; a line of mountains

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

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

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.