tete-a-tete

Where does the word "tete-a-tete" come from? It comes from Latin testa, passing through Old French and French before entering English (1690s).

Tete-a-tete’s story begins in Latin: testa meant “an earthen pot; head.” Originally an earthenware pot or jug; a humorous Vulgar Latin shift gave it the sense of 'head'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as teste. Kept the sense of head. From there it passed into French as tete-a-tete by 1690s. Literally 'head-to-head', a phrase for a private, face-to-face meeting. It reached English by 1690s as tete-a-tete. Borrowed whole for an intimate two-person conversation. Today, tete-a-tete means a private conversation between two people.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient testa "an earthen pot; head", originally an earthenware pot or jug; a humorous Vulgar Latin shift gave it the sense of 'head'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval teste "head", kept the sense of head.
3. Stage 3 · French · 1690s tete-a-tete "a private, face-to-face meeting", literally 'head-to-head', a phrase for a private, face-to-face meeting.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1690s tete-a-tete "a private conversation between two people", borrowed whole for an intimate two-person conversation.