English
target
Target comes from Middle French targe ‘light shield’, and goes back to Frankish *targa ‘buckler’.
- Frankishc. 250–700*targa‘buckler’reconstructed
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600targe‘light shield’
- Middle French, derivedc. 1400–1600targettediminutive of targe
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1597target
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Frankishc. 250–700*targa‘buckler’reconstructed
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600targe‘light shield’
- Middle French, derivedc. 1400–1600targettediminutive of targe
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1597target
Earliest quotation: c. 1597, William Shakespeare, The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]: “These four came all afront, and mainly thrust at…”
Every English word from Frankish *targa
Today it means
noun A butt or mark to shoot at, as for practice, or to test the accuracy of a firearm, or the force of a projectile.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Frankish *targa / target