Etymograph

English

rinse

Rinse comes from Middle English rinsen ‘to rinse’, and goes back to Old French rincier.

  1. Old Frenchc. 842–1400rincier‘to rinse, cleanse’disputed
  2. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500rinsen‘to rinse’
  3. Englishearliest quotation 1958rinse

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Old Frenchc. 842–1400rincier‘to rinse, cleanse’disputed
  2. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500rinsen‘to rinse’
  3. Englishearliest quotation 1958rinse

Earliest quotation: 1958, Avram Davidson, Or All The Seas With Oysters: “Oscar uncapped his beer, rinsed the first mouthful around.”

The story

Of contested origin.disputed Scholars disagree here; the competing view is quoted as the source gives it. It is related to German rein (‘pure’), Gothic 𐌷𐍂𐌰𐌹𐌽𐍃 (hrains, “clean”), and English riddle. The Latin verb is related to recent.

Every English word from Old French rincier

Today it means

verb To wash (something) quickly using water and no soap.

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

Etymograph / Old French rincier / rinse

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