500s

French words from Latin words first recorded in the 6th century

7 French words inherited from a Latin word whose earliest known written record dates from the 6th century, earliest Latin record first.

1. charger

   507–511

   from Latin carrico

   It is inherited from Late Latin carricō (“to load”), recorded in the 6th century in the syncopated form “carcare” (Salic Law), derived from carrus (“four-wheeled wagon”) (see char): properly “to put…

2. compagnon

   507–511

   from Latin companio

   It is inherited from Old French compaignon, the old oblique case, inherited from Late Latin companio (“companion”), through the accusative companiōnem; the old nominative compain survives in copain…

3. drap

   530–570

   from Latin drappus

   It is inherited from Old French drap, inherited from Late Latin drappus (“piece of cloth, rag”), a word recorded from the 5th century and probably of Gaulish origin, since Gaulish had the personal…

4. champagne

   538–594

   from Latin campania

   It is short for “vin de Champagne”, wine of Champagne, the province, whose name is inherited from Late Latin campānia (“plain, open country”), used as a place name in Late Latin “Campania Remensis”…

5. cour

   538–594

   from Latin curtis

   It is inherited from Old French cort, inherited from Late Latin curtis (“farmyard; manor; royal residence”), recorded from the 6th century, from Latin cohors (“enclosure, yard; division of a camp…

6. feuille

   600–630

   from Latin folia

   It is inherited from Old French fueille, inherited from Late Latin folia, the neuter plural of Latin folium (“leaf; sheet of paper”), taken as a feminine singular. The collective plural is explained…

7. valeur

   600–699

   from Latin valor

   It is inherited from Old French valor, inherited from Latin valor (“worth, value”), through its accusative valōrem, from valeō (“to be strong; to be worth”) (see valoir). Cognate with Italian…

All French words inherited from Latin, by century →