English
role
Role comes from Old French role ‘roll’, and goes back to Medieval Latin rotulus.
- Medieval Latinc. 600–1500rotulus
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400role‘roll’
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600rolle
- Frenchc. 1600–presentrôle
- Englishearliest quotation 1939role
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Medieval Latinc. 600–1500rotulus
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400role‘roll’
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600rolle
- Frenchc. 1600–presentrôle
- Englishearliest quotation 1939role
Earliest quotation: 1939, Following The War: “As students all over the United States knuckle down…”
Linked words
through Medieval Latin rotulus
Today it means
noun A character or part played by a performer or actor.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Medieval Latin rotulus / role