tactic

Where does the word "tactic" come from? It comes from Greek taktikos, passing through French before entering English (1600s).

Tactic’s story begins in Greek: taktikos meant “of arranging.” Greek, from 'tassein', to arrange troops. By 1600s, the word had taken hold in French as tactique. Came via Modern Latin 'tactica'. It reached English by 1600s as tactic. 'tactical' voting dates from the 1900s. Today, tactic means an action planned to achieve an end.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient taktikos "of arranging", Greek, from 'tassein', to arrange troops.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1600s tactique "tactics", came via Modern Latin 'tactica'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1600s tactic "military arranging", 'tactical' voting dates from the 1900s.