Etymology Map
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Truce

3 stages from Frankish to English.

Today it means an agreement to stop fighting

Where does the word "truce" come from? It comes from Frankish treuwa, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
treuwa
Frankish · ancient
"faith, pledge"
a Frankish word related to 'true' and 'trust'
2
Stage 2 of 3
trieve
Old French · medieval
"truce"
the medieval 'Truce of God' limited fighting
3
Stage 3 of 3
truce
English · 1200s
"truce"
formed in English as a plural of 'trewe'
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Read the full story

Truce’s story begins in Frankish: treuwa meant “faith, pledge.” A Frankish word related to 'true' and 'trust'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as trieve. The medieval 'Truce of God' limited fighting. It reached English by 1200s as truce. Formed in English as a plural of 'trewe'. Today, truce means an agreement to stop fighting.