vignette

Where does the word "vignette" come from? It comes from French vigne, and was adopted directly into English (1700s).

Vignette’s story begins in French: vigne meant “a vine.” A vine, since early decorative borders were designed with vine-leaf patterns. It reached English by 1700s as vignette. Broadened from a decorative border to a short, evocative literary sketch. Today, vignette means a short, evocative piece of writing, or a small decorative illustration.

1. Stage 1 · French · medieval vigne "a vine", a vine, since early decorative borders were designed with vine-leaf patterns.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1700s vignette "a short, evocative descriptive scene or sketch", broadened from a decorative border to a short, evocative literary sketch.