salary

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

Salary’s story begins in Latin: salarium meant “salt-money, an allowance.” An allowance given to Roman soldiers, traditionally linked to the price of salt. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as salaire. Carried into French for regular payment for work. It reached English by 1300s as salary. Settled as the English word for fixed regular pay. Today, salary means a fixed regular payment made by an employer for work performed.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient salarium "salt-money, an allowance", an allowance given to Roman soldiers, traditionally linked to the price of salt.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval salaire "regular payment for work", carried into French for regular payment for work.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s salary "fixed regular payment for work", settled as the English word for fixed regular pay.