Old French
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of Old French
First recorded in 1885–90
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Beaufort” comes from the Old French of “beau fort” or “bel fort” for beautiful fortress.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2026
As a noun, suppa became soupe in Old French, meaning bread soaked in broth and sowpes in Middle English.
From Salon ● Jun. 5, 2023
“Domain” derives from Old French, denoting heritable or landed property; its Latin-derived cognate, “domicile,” means, of course, “home.”
From New York Times ● Apr. 15, 2022
In Latin persicum became persica, pessica, the Old French pesche, the Old English peche and peoche, and finally peach.
From Slate ● Jan. 5, 2021
“Fine, Old French, maybe Latin or something,” she said, flustered.
From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.