Etymology Map
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Vamoose

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means to leave hurriedly

Where does the word "vamoose" come from? It comes from Latin vādāmus, passing through Spanish before entering English (1830s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
vādāmus
Latin · ancient
"let us go"
'let us go', from 'vādere', to go
2
Stage 2 of 3
vamos
Spanish · medieval
"let's go"
'let's go'
3
Stage 3 of 3
vamoose
American English · 1830s
"to leave quickly"
picked up by Americans in Texas and the Southwest
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Read the full story

Vamoose’s story begins in Latin: vādāmus meant “let us go.” 'let us go', from 'vādere', to go. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Spanish as vamos. 'let's go'. It reached English by 1830s as vamoose. Picked up by Americans in Texas and the Southwest. Today, vamoose means to leave hurriedly.