stampede

Where does the word "stampede" come from? It comes from Spanish estampida, passing through Mexican Spanish before entering English (1800s).

Stampede’s story begins in Spanish: estampida meant “an uproar, crash.” Meaning "an uproar" or "crash". By 1800s, the word had taken hold in Mexican Spanish as estampida. Applied to a sudden mass flight of startled cattle. It reached English by 1800s as stampede. From Spanish 'estampar', to stamp; the Calgary Stampede began in 1912. Today, stampede means a sudden mass rush of frightened animals or panicked people.

1. Stage 1 · Spanish · medieval estampida "an uproar, crash", meaning "an uproar" or "crash".
2. Stage 2 · Mexican Spanish · 1800s estampida "a sudden rush of frightened animals", applied to a sudden mass flight of startled cattle.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1800s stampede "a sudden, headlong rush of a group", from Spanish 'estampar', to stamp; the Calgary Stampede began in 1912.