Etymology Map
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Wafer

3 stages from Frankish to English.

Today it means a thin crisp biscuit; a thin slice

Where does the word "wafer" come from? It comes from Frankish wafla, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
wafla
Frankish · ancient
"honeycomb"
a Frankish word related to 'weave' and to Dutch 'wafel', waffle
2
Stage 2 of 3
waufre
Old French · medieval
"wafer"
a thin cake with a honeycomb pattern
3
Stage 3 of 3
wafer
English · 1300s
"thin cake"
silicon 'wafers' date from the 1950s
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Read the full story

Wafer’s story begins in Frankish: wafla meant “honeycomb.” A Frankish word related to 'weave' and to Dutch 'wafel', waffle. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as waufre. A thin cake with a honeycomb pattern. It reached English by 1300s as wafer. Silicon 'wafers' date from the 1950s. Today, wafer means a thin crisp biscuit; a thin slice.