Eight words the Brits borrowed from us

We often complain about the ubiquity of English in our language. But it is less known that the English have a huge collection of words borrowed from us. This tradition is linked to the Norman conquest of William the Conqueror, Count of Normandy, but also to the succession of queens of England who came from France. From the 11th to the 15th century, many French words entered the English language.

Read moreThese are French words that can be used instead of English words

These words are still found in Shakespeare’s language today: they retain the old written and spoken forms of French, as do some consonants. “s” of “forest” to “forest” Or some vowels and diphthongs etc “veil” to “veil”, “Prey” to “Prey” And “rest” to “rest”. In a scholarly work, Shame on Who’s Wrong, an incredible love story between the French and the English, linguist Henriette Walter tells the intertwined history of the two languages. Seeing these words is a leap into the past. Compile.

pride

Surprising, but true. say “pride”That is “pride” In English, it is one of the oldest borrowings from French. It is attested in Shakespeare’s language from the 12th century. It actually comes from Old French “Intelligence” That is “Courage” In the Middle Ages, it became later “Courage” In our language. According to what we can read in the word Trésor de la langue française “Prudome”Designation “A man whose wisdom, virtue, and experience are recognized by all”It comes from somewhere else.

Foreign

In English, the “Foreign” is“stranger”. This is what we called it “Fair Grounds” In the 12th century, it was “Who’s Out, Out”More precisely the “Foreigners”. say “Fair Ground” Popular comes from Latin “Foranus”Derived from this “Foris” It must be said “outside”. It is first attested in Late Latin “It extends outward, outward”, speaking of the stones of a wall. If the original object “Foreign” Unchanged in English, it originated in French to be first designated in the early 15th century. “Foreign Merchants” Or “Traders from other places” Then, today, the organizer of fairs and markets.

successor

In Old French, what is the equivalent of this word? “heir”? The answer is “Higher”, which indicates direct line of succession. From Latin “here”This word has several forms in French “Eriter”, “er”, “air”, “Higher”After “heir”. In English, the meaning and form of the word inherited from the 13th century have remained the same except for the vowel change. “Oh” A “e”.

Read moreDo you know these medieval insults?

Curtain

The “screen” English also had an old French word. “screen” Evolution of Pronunciation in English from Old French “Cortina” Or “Cortine”. there “Cortine” was “a curtain used to cover and decorate a bed”, teaches us the Trésor de la Longue Franchise from the Middle Ages to the 17th century. He comes from Low Latin “Cortina” Meaning “screen”received by itself “Brothers”.

Piece

Who would have believed that? Even the word “piece” Borrowed from French in English! comes from Old French, “Thwalja”The word is later attested in medieval Latin in the eighth century “Twahila” Or “Docula”, “Need” In the 11th century before taking shape “Toilet” In the 12th century. Until the beginning of the 17th century, in some areas, the “problem” Appointed a “Linen used for various purposes, especially present tablecloths and napkins”, according to an article devoted to the word in CNRTL. In French, if the word disappeared, it remained in form in English “piece”.

flesh

You can find a similar word in French. It is very easy to make a connection with the word “chair” It refers to the raised platform on which the preacher takes his place in a church. But what about appearance? Who borrowed from whom? In Old French, we find traces of this word “Add”It represents a “Seat with Backrest”From the first half of the 12th century, the form was still used until the 17th century “chair”. From the 16th century there was a competition with typography “chair”It gradually replaces it in common French, while the form “chair” Continued in Western Oil Dialects. It is certified not in English “e” From the 13th century.

Read moreDon’t say “ghost” anymore but…

Snack

Pop! A “Toast” As we know a “Toast Toast”. The British love it. But the word comes from an Old French verb “toaster” Who means “grill, fry” At the end of the 10th century. On the French side, we have lost the use of this verb. Originally it was a Latin word “stare”received by itself “Toasts”It must be said “to dry, burn, grill”. It is attested in the language of our neighbors from the end of the 14th century.

Hide

It is a word that does not make any sense to those who have little command of English. across the channel, verb “Cover up” meaning “hide”. Our English friends borrowed from Old French. “hide”itself from Latin “hide”It must be said “Hide carefully” Or “conceal, conceal by deception, divert”. Attested in the language of the late Elizabeth II in the 13th century, the word has disappeared from the radar in France. However, note that the verb “find” Belonging to the same family, he is descended “Go”Latin “seller”.