Etymology Map
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Scarce

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means insufficient for the demand

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
excarpsus
Latin · ancient
"plucked out"
from 'excerpere', to pick out, the root of 'excerpt'
2
Stage 2 of 3
escars
Old French · medieval
"scanty, stingy"
meant mean and sparing
3
Stage 3 of 3
scarce
English · 1300s
"scanty"
'make yourself scarce' dates from the 1800s
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Read the full story

Scarce’s story begins in Latin: excarpsus meant “plucked out.” From 'excerpere', to pick out, the root of 'excerpt'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as escars. Meant mean and sparing. It reached English by 1300s as scarce. 'make yourself scarce' dates from the 1800s. Today, scarce means insufficient for the demand.