English
pledge
Pledge comes from Old French plege, and goes back to Frankish *plehan ‘to pledge’.
- Frankishc. 250–700*plehan‘to pledge’reconstructed
- Medieval Latinc. 600–1500plevium
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400plege
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400plege
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500plege
- Englishearliest quotation 1593pledge
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Frankishc. 250–700*plehan‘to pledge’reconstructed
- Medieval Latinc. 600–1500plevium
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400plege
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400plege
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500plege
- Englishearliest quotation 1593pledge
Earliest quotation: 1593, anonymous author, The Life and Death of Iacke Straw […]: “Iacke Straw. […] I haue his wife and children…”
Every English word from Frankish *plehan
Today it means
verb To make a solemn promise (to do something).
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Frankish *plehan / pledge