Etymology Map
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Rank

3 stages from Frankish to English.

Today it means a position in a hierarchy

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

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

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.