rank

Where does the word "rank" come from? It comes from Frankish hring, passing through Old French before entering English (1500s).

Rank’s story begins in Frankish: hring meant “ring, circle.” A Frankish word related to 'ring': soldiers in a line. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as ranc. A row of soldiers. It reached English by 1500s as rank. 'rank and file' dates from the 1500s. Today, rank means a position in a hierarchy.

1. Stage 1 · Frankish · ancient hring "ring, circle", a Frankish word related to 'ring': soldiers in a line.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval ranc "row", a row of soldiers.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s rank "row; social position", 'rank and file' dates from the 1500s.