risque

Where does the word "risque" come from? It comes from Italian riscare, passing through French before entering English (1867).

Risque’s story begins in Italian: riscare meant “to risk.” An Italian verb of uncertain deeper origin meaning to risk or dare. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in French as risquer. From Italian 'risicare', to dare. It reached English by 1867 as risque. The past participle risqué was borrowed for behavior that dares to skirt impropriety. Today, risque means verging on impropriety or indecency, especially in a titillating way.

1. Stage 1 · Italian · medieval riscare "to risk", an Italian verb of uncertain deeper origin meaning to risk or dare.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1500s risquer "to risk, expose to danger", from Italian 'risicare', to dare.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1867 risque "verging on impropriety", the past participle risqué was borrowed for behavior that dares to skirt impropriety.