vigilante

Where does the word "vigilante" come from? It comes from Latin vigilare, passing through Spanish before entering English (1800s).

Vigilante’s story begins in Latin: vigilare meant “to keep watch.” By medieval, the word had taken hold in Spanish as vigilante. Meaning "watchman" or "vigilant". It reached English by 1800s as vigilante. Spanish 'watchman'; vigilance committees of the 1850s Wild West gave the modern sense. Today, vigilante means a person who takes law enforcement into their own hands without legal authority.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient vigilare "to keep watch", meaning "to keep watch".
2. Stage 2 · Spanish · medieval vigilante "watchman, guard", meaning "watchman" or "vigilant".
3. Stage 3 · English · 1800s vigilante "one who takes law enforcement into their own hands", Spanish 'watchman'; vigilance committees of the 1850s Wild West gave the modern sense.