salute

Where does the word "salute" come from? It comes from Latin salus, passing through Latin before entering English (1300s).

Salute’s story begins in Latin: salus meant “health, safety.” Health, safety, well-being. Within Latin, it grew into salutare by ancient. From 'salus', health, the root of 'salutary' and 'salvation'. It reached English by 1300s as salute. Settled as the English word for a formal gesture of greeting or respect. Today, salute means a formal gesture, especially a military one, showing greeting or respect.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient salus "health, safety", health, safety, well-being.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient salutare "to greet, wishing health", from 'salus', health, the root of 'salutary' and 'salvation'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s salute "a formal gesture of greeting or respect", settled as the English word for a formal gesture of greeting or respect.