Etymology Map
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Stable

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a building for horses

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
stabulum
Latin · ancient
"standing place, stall"
from 'stare', to stand
2
Stage 2 of 3
estable
Old French · medieval
"stall for animals"
the same root as the adjective 'stable', steady
3
Stage 3 of 3
stable
English · 1200s
"a horse building"
'stable' of racehorses or companies came later
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Read the full story

Stable’s story begins in Latin: stabulum meant “standing place, stall.” From 'stare', to stand. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as estable. The same root as the adjective 'stable', steady. It reached English by 1200s as stable. 'stable' of racehorses or companies came later. Today, stable means a building for horses.