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Where does the word "vessel" come from? It comes from Latin vascellum, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
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Where does the word "vessel" come from? It comes from Latin vascellum, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Vessel’s story begins in Latin: vascellum meant “small vase.” A diminutive of 'vas', vase. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as vaissel. Both containers and ships. It reached English by 1300s as vessel. 'blood vessel' dates from the 1600s. Today, vessel means a ship; a hollow container.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient vascellum "small vase", a diminutive of 'vas', vase.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval vaissel "container; ship", both containers and ships.
- Stage 3 · English · 1300s vessel "container; ship", 'blood vessel' dates from the 1600s.