tailor

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

Tailor’s story begins in Late Latin: taliare meant “to cut.” From 'talea', a cutting or twig; the same root gives 'detail' and 'tally'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as tailleor. A cutter of cloth, as distinct from those who sewed it. It reached English by 1200s as tailor. The verb 'to tailor', adapt to fit, came much later. Today, tailor means a person who makes and alters clothes to fit; to adapt for a purpose.

1. Stage 1 · Late Latin · ancient taliare "to cut", from 'talea', a cutting or twig; the same root gives 'detail' and 'tally'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval tailleor "cutter", a cutter of cloth, as distinct from those who sewed it.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s tailor "a maker of clothes", the verb 'to tailor', adapt to fit, came much later.