Etymology Map
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Tunnel

3 stages from Medieval Latin to English.

Today it means an underground passage

Where does the word "tunnel" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin tunna, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
tunna
Medieval Latin · medieval
"cask"
a Gaulish word adopted in Medieval Latin
2
Stage 2 of 3
tonnel
Old French · medieval
"cask; tube-shaped net"
a barrel shape, then a tube-shaped net
3
Stage 3 of 3
tunnel
English · 1400s
"net; funnel"
railway tunnels spread the modern sense in the 1800s
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Read the full story

Tunnel’s story begins in Medieval Latin: tunna meant “cask.” A Gaulish word adopted in Medieval Latin. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as tonnel. A barrel shape, then a tube-shaped net. It reached English by 1400s as tunnel. Railway tunnels spread the modern sense in the 1800s. Today, tunnel means an underground passage.