Etymograph

English

franchise

Franchise comes from Old French franchise ‘freedom’, from franc ‘free’, and ultimately from Latin Francus.

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEFrancus
  2. Old Frenchc. 842–1400franc‘free’
  3. Old French, derivedc. 842–1400franchise‘freedom’derivative of franc
  4. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form‘freedom, franchise’
  5. Englishearliest quotation 1596same form

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEFrancus
  2. Old Frenchc. 842–1400franc‘free’
  3. Old French, derivedc. 842–1400franchise‘freedom’derivative of franc
  4. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form‘freedom, franchise’
  5. Englishearliest quotation 1596same form

Earliest quotation: 1596, Edmund Spenser, Book IV, Canto IX: “Ye[…]the love of ladies foule defame; To whom the…”

Linked words

through Old French franc ‘free’

frank, 5 more

Another origin of franchise

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEFrancus
  2. Old Frenchc. 842–1400franc‘free’
  3. Old French, derivedc. 842–1400franchir‘to set free’
  4. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500franchisen
  5. Englishtodayfranchise

Today it means

noun The right to vote at a public election or referendum; see: suffrage.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Latin Francus / franchise

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