troubadour

Where does the word "troubadour" come from? It comes from Occitan trobar, passing through Occitan and French before entering English (1720s).

Troubadour’s story begins in Occitan: trobar meant “to compose, find.” To compose, literally 'to find' (a poem or tune). Within Occitan, it grew into trobador by 1100s. Poets such as Guilhem IX, Duke of Aquitaine, invented the lyric of courtly love. From there it passed into French as troubadour by 1700s. Revived by French scholars of medieval literature. It reached English by 1720s as troubadour. Borrowed as interest in medieval poetry grew. Today, troubadour means a medieval lyric poet of southern France; a singer of love songs.

1. Stage 1 · Occitan · medieval trobar "to compose, find", to compose, literally 'to find' (a poem or tune).
2. Stage 2 · Occitan · 1100s trobador "poet-composer", poets such as Guilhem IX, Duke of Aquitaine, invented the lyric of courtly love.
3. Stage 3 · French · 1700s troubadour "troubadour", revived by French scholars of medieval literature.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1720s troubadour "lyric poet", borrowed as interest in medieval poetry grew.