salient

Where does the word "salient" come from? It comes from Latin salire, passing through Latin before entering English (1600s).

Salient’s story begins in Latin: salire meant “to jump, to leap.” The root of 'salmon' (the leaper) and 'somersault'. Within Latin, it grew into saliens by ancient. Jumping, leaping, present participle of salire. It reached English by 1600s as salient. Settled as the English word for something jumping out as most noticeable or important. Today, salient means most noticeable, important, or prominent.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient salire "to jump, to leap", the root of 'salmon' (the leaper) and 'somersault'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient saliens "jumping, leaping", jumping, leaping, present participle of salire.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1600s salient "most noticeable or important, standing out", settled as the English word for something jumping out as most noticeable or important.