Where does “canvass” come from?
Canvass comes from Middle English canevas, from Old Northern French canevas, originally denoting a coarse fabric made from hemp.
canvass (English): A solicitation of voters or public opinion; A...
Definitions
- A solicitation of voters or public opinion; A...
Ancestry of “canvass”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | canvas | A type of coarse cloth, woven from hemp, useful... |
| 2 | Middle English | canevas | flaxen fabric, canvas; A portion of canvas; a... |
| 3 | Old Northern French | canevas | — |
| 4 | Latin | cannabaceus | — |
| 5 | Late Latin | cannabum | Alternative form of cannabis |
| 6 | Latin | cannabis | hemp; dative/ablative plural of cannabum;... |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | κάνναβις | hemp; hemp seed |