English
usher
Usher comes from Anglo-Norman usser, from Vulgar Latin *ustiārius ‘doorkeeper’, and ultimately from Latin ōstium ‘door’.
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEōstium‘door’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEōstiārius‘of or pertaining to a door’
- Vulgar Latinc. 100–700 CE*ustiārius‘doorkeeper’reconstructed
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400usser
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500ussher
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1595–1596usher
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEōstium‘door’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEōstiārius‘of or pertaining to a door’
- Vulgar Latinc. 100–700 CE*ustiārius‘doorkeeper’reconstructed
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400usser
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500ussher
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1595–1596usher
Earliest quotation: c. 1595–1596, W. Shakespere [i.e., William Shakespeare]: “[N]ay he can ſing / A meane moſt meanely,…”
Every English word from Latin ōstium
Today it means
noun A person, in a church, cinema etc., who escorts people to their seats.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Latin ōstium / usher