valley

Where does the word "valley" come from? It comes from Latin vallis, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

Valley’s story begins in Latin: vallis meant “a valley.” A valley, a low area between hills. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as valee. Carried into French for the low land between hills. It reached English by 1200s as valley. Settled as the English word for low land between hills or mountains. Today, valley means a low area of land between hills or mountains, often with a river flowing through it.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient vallis "a valley", a valley, a low area between hills.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval valee "low land between hills", carried into French for the low land between hills.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s valley "low land between hills or mountains", settled as the English word for low land between hills or mountains.