400s

French words from Latin words first recorded in the 5th century

5 French words inherited from a Latin word whose earliest known written record dates from the 5th century, earliest Latin record first.

1. geai

   448–449

   from Latin gaius

   It is inherited from Old French jai, inherited from Late Latin gaius (“jay”) (5th century), probably taken from the personal name Latin Gaius, very common at Rome as a popular nickname: the jay…

2. foire

   455

   from Latin feria

   1. It is inherited from Old French feire, inherited from Late Latin fēria (“market, fair”), from classical Latin fēriae (“days of rest, holidays”), since fairs were held on religious feast days (the…

3. moulin

   485–580

   from Latin molinum

   It is inherited from Old French molin, inherited from Late Latin molīnum (“mill”) (6th century), derived from mola (“millstone”), the source of meule, or, as Rey and Wiktionary have it, from the…

4. pays

   500–599

   from Latin pagensis

   It is inherited from Old French païs, inherited from Medieval Latin pāgēnsis (“inhabitant of a district”), a word of Gregory of Tours, derived from Latin pāgus (“village, canton, district”). The…

5. sommeil

   500

   from Latin somniculus

   It is inherited from Old French sumeil, inherited from Late Latin somniculus (“light sleep, short sleep”), a diminutive of Latin somnus (“sleep”). “Somnus”, like sopor, goes back to the…

All French words inherited from Latin, by century →