Etymology Map
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Seal

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a stamp pressed into wax; to close tightly

Where does the word "seal" come from? It comes from Latin sigillum, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
sigillum
Latin · ancient
"small figure, seal"
a diminutive of 'signum', sign
2
Stage 2 of 3
seel
Old French · medieval
"seal"
wax seals authenticated documents
3
Stage 3 of 3
seal
English · 1200s
"a stamp"
unrelated to the animal 'seal', which is from Old English
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Read the full story

Seal’s story begins in Latin: sigillum meant “small figure, seal.” A diminutive of 'signum', sign. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as seel. Wax seals authenticated documents. It reached English by 1200s as seal. Unrelated to the animal 'seal', which is from Old English. Today, seal means a stamp pressed into wax; to close tightly.