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Where does the word "vine" come from? It comes from Latin vinea, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
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Where does the word "vine" come from? It comes from Latin vinea, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Vine’s story begins in Latin: vinea meant “vineyard.” From 'vinum', wine. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as vigne. Romans spread vineyards across Gaul. It reached English by 1300s as vine. 'I heard it through the grapevine' comes from telegraph wires of the 1860s. Today, vine means a climbing plant, especially a grapevine.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient vinea "vineyard", from 'vinum', wine.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval vigne "vine, vineyard", Romans spread vineyards across Gaul.
- Stage 3 · English · 1300s vine "grapevine", 'I heard it through the grapevine' comes from telegraph wires of the 1860s.