warrior

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

Warrior’s story begins in Frankish: werra meant “strife, war.” Strife or confusion; French 'guerre' and English 'war' both come from it. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old North French as werreieor. One who makes war; the Normans' northern dialect kept the Germanic 'w' that central French turned into 'gu'. It reached English by 1300s as warrior. Borrowed after the Norman Conquest. Today, warrior means a brave or experienced fighter.

1. Stage 1 · Frankish · medieval werra "strife, war", strife or confusion; French 'guerre' and English 'war' both come from it.
2. Stage 2 · Old North French · medieval werreieor "one who wages war", one who makes war; the Normans' northern dialect kept the Germanic 'w' that central French turned into 'gu'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s warrior "fighter", borrowed after the Norman Conquest.