Etymology Map
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Rescue

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means to save from danger or difficulty

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
excutere
Latin · ancient
"to shake off"
'ex-', off, plus 'quatere', to shake
2
Stage 2 of 3
rescorre
Old French · medieval
"to rescue"
're-' plus 'escorre', to shake out
3
Stage 3 of 3
rescue
English · 1300s
"to free from danger"
'rescue dog' dates from the 1900s
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Read the full story

Rescue’s story begins in Latin: excutere meant “to shake off.” 'ex-', off, plus 'quatere', to shake. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as rescorre. 're-' plus 'escorre', to shake out. It reached English by 1300s as rescue. 'rescue dog' dates from the 1900s. Today, rescue means to save from danger or difficulty.