Vol. 09 · Loanwords ·French ·1820s
Beret
from béret
- Meaning
- A soft round flat-crowned cap.
- Source word
- béret
- Route into English
- French *béret*, from Béarnais dialect, from Late Latin *birrus* (a hooded cloak). The Basque shepherd's hat became military headgear and then a mid-century style staple.
- Arrived
- 1820s
From French
Beyond the Norman conquest's Old French foundation, English kept borrowing from French for art, cuisine, fashion, and diplomacy throughout the modern period.
English borrows.
Browse the full loanword atlas or explore another source language.