Etymology Map
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Tour

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a journey visiting several places

Where does the word "tour" come from? It comes from Latin tornus, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
tornus
Latin · ancient
"lathe"
from Greek 'tornos', a tool for drawing circles
2
Stage 2 of 3
tour
Old French · medieval
"turn, circuit"
a turning around
3
Stage 3 of 3
tour
English · 1300s
"a turn"
the 'Grand Tour' of European travel dates from the 1600s
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Read the full story

Tour’s story begins in Latin: tornus meant “lathe.” From Greek 'tornos', a tool for drawing circles. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as tour. A turning around. It reached English by 1300s as tour. The 'Grand Tour' of European travel dates from the 1600s. Today, tour means a journey visiting several places.