soldier

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

Soldier’s story begins in Latin: solidus meant “a gold coin.” A gold coin used to pay Roman troops. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as soudier. One who serves for pay, from soulde (pay, from solidus). It reached English by 1300s as soldier. Settled as the English word for a person who serves in an army. Today, soldier means a person who serves in an army.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient solidus "a gold coin", a gold coin used to pay Roman troops.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval soudier "one who serves for pay", one who serves for pay, from soulde (pay, from solidus).
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s soldier "a person who serves in an army", settled as the English word for a person who serves in an army.