Etymology Map
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Razor

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a sharp instrument for shaving

Where does the word "razor" come from? It comes from Latin radere, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
radere
Latin · ancient
"to scrape"
the root of 'erase'
2
Stage 2 of 3
rasor
Old French · medieval
"razor"
from 'raser', to shave
3
Stage 3 of 3
razor
English · 1300s
"shaving blade"
'razor-sharp' dates from the 1800s
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Read the full story

Razor’s story begins in Latin: radere meant “to scrape.” The root of 'erase'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as rasor. From 'raser', to shave. It reached English by 1300s as razor. 'razor-sharp' dates from the 1800s. Today, razor means a sharp instrument for shaving.