sauce

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

Sauce’s story begins in Latin: salsus meant “salted.” Literally salted, from sal (salt), describing a seasoned liquid condiment. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as sauce. Carried into French for a liquid condiment served with food. It reached English by 1300s as sauce. Settled as the English word for a flavorful liquid accompaniment to food. Today, sauce means a liquid or semi-liquid preparation served with food to add flavor or moisture.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient salsus "salted", literally salted, from sal (salt), describing a seasoned liquid condiment.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval sauce "a liquid condiment served with food", carried into French for a liquid condiment served with food.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s sauce "a flavorful liquid or semi-liquid accompaniment to food", settled as the English word for a flavorful liquid accompaniment to food.