salon

Where does the word "salon" come from? It comes from Old High German sala, passing through French before entering English (1700s).

Salon’s story begins in Old High German: sala meant “a hall, a large room.” A hall or large room. By 1600s, the word had taken hold in French as salon. Carried into French for an elegant reception room, later a gathering held in one. It reached English by 1700s as salon. Settled as the English word for a fashionable gathering or business establishment. Today, salon means an establishment offering beauty treatments, or a gathering of notable guests.

1. Stage 1 · Old High German · medieval sala "a hall, a large room", a hall or large room.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1600s salon "an elegant reception room, or a social gathering", carried into French for an elegant reception room, later a gathering held in one.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1700s salon "a gathering of notable people, or a stylish business establishment", settled as the English word for a fashionable gathering or business establishment.