Etymology Map
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Wage

3 stages from Frankish to English.

Today it means a fixed regular payment for work

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
wadi
Frankish · ancient
"pledge"
a Frankish word related to English 'wed'
2
Stage 2 of 3
wage
Old French · medieval
"pledge, payment"
a security given for a promise
3
Stage 3 of 3
wage
English · 1300s
"payment for work"
'wage war' keeps the old sense of pledging to fight
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Read the full story

Wage’s story begins in Frankish: wadi meant “pledge.” A Frankish word related to English 'wed'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as wage. A security given for a promise. It reached English by 1300s as wage. 'wage war' keeps the old sense of pledging to fight. Today, wage means a fixed regular payment for work.