English
choir
Choir comes from Latin chorus ‘chorus (all forms)’, and goes back to Ancient Greek χορός ‘company of dancers or singers’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEχορόςkhorós‘company of dancers or singers’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEchorus‘chorus (all forms)’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400quer
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
- Englishearliest quotation 1810choir
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEχορόςkhorós‘company of dancers or singers’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEchorus‘chorus (all forms)’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400quer
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
- Englishearliest quotation 1810choir
Earliest quotation: 1810, Jack and Jill, York: J. Kendrew: “Sow ran and squall'd, While Jack he bawl'd, And…”
The story
Modern spelling influenced by chorus and French chœur.
Linked words
through Ancient Greek χορός ‘company of dancers or singers’
through Latin chorus ‘chorus (all forms)’
through Middle English quer
Today it means
noun A group of people who sing together; a company of people who are trained to sing together.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek χορός / choir