Etymologically
Log in

installer

Etymology and origin of the French word installer

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
1349
Borrowed from
Latin installo
Ultimate origin
Frankish (*stal)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ɛ̃s.ta.le/[1]

Forms

installer[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Medieval Latin installāre (“to install (a cleric) in his stall”), formed in the 13th century from in- and stallum (“stall”), itself from Frankish *stal (“position, place”).[2][3][4][5][6][1][7] Taking possession of a church dignity gave the right to a stall in the choir.[4] French stalle and étal belong to the same Germanic family.[5][8]

English install (early 15th century) is from Old French “installer” or directly from the Medieval Latin.[9]

Earliest recorded meaning

Its first record, in the 1349 statutes of the order of Saint George (in a 17th-century copy), means to establish someone officially in office, Nicolas de Baye's journal (1403) has the same sense.[2][3]

Semantic evolution

In the 16th century it was extended to other office-holders (Amyot), and, from 1596 to putting something in its place.[10][2] S'installer first meant, pejoratively, to settle in at someone else's home (1690); Rousseau (1770) uses installer for settling someone in a place to live, and Marat (1790) for putting someone in the post they are to hold.[2][3] From 1857 it meant to fit an appliance, and in 1867 to fit out a house, installé “comfortably established” dates from 1936.[2] In computing it means to install software, whence désinstaller (1987).[3] The slang en installer “to show off” (1888, 1917) is of unclear development.[2][3]

Timeline

  • 1349 – To install in office.[2]
  • 1349 – Installation.[4]
  • 1581 – Réinstaller.[4]
  • 1596 – To put something in place.[2]
  • 1690 – S'installer, Furetière.[2]
  • 1857 – To fit an appliance.[2]
  • 1936 – Installé “well established”, Martin du Gard.[2]
  • 1987 – Désinstaller.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To install, put in, fit: installer le chauffage, installer un logiciel.[8][1]
  2. To put, place, settle (someone): installer un malade dans son lit.[8][6]
  3. S'installer: to settle, settle in; to move in: s'installer à la campagne, s'installer dans un fauteuil.[1][8]
  4. To fit out (a place): installer un appartement.[2][8]
  5. To install (someone) in office: installer un évêque.[8][6]

Word family

  • installation
  • installateur
  • réinstaller
  • désinstaller
  • installé

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ a b c d e f Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c d Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  5. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  7. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 17, 208b
  8. ^ a b c d e f Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  9. ^ Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  10. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Installer.” Etymologically, 18 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/installer. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·