Etymology Map
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Turret

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a small tower on a building; a rotating gun housing

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
turris
Latin · ancient
"tower"
the root of 'tower'
2
Stage 2 of 3
torete
Old French · medieval
"small tower"
a diminutive of 'tor'
3
Stage 3 of 3
turret
English · 1300s
"small tower"
gun turrets on warships date from the 1860s
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Read the full story

Turret’s story begins in Latin: turris meant “tower.” The root of 'tower'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as torete. A diminutive of 'tor'. It reached English by 1300s as turret. Gun turrets on warships date from the 1860s. Today, turret means a small tower on a building; a rotating gun housing.