Where does “customer” come from?
Customer comes from Middle English customere, from Old French coustumier, from Medieval Latin custumarius, from Latin custumarius, derived from Latin custuma meaning tax or toll.
customer (English): A patron, a client; one who purchases or receives...
Definitions
- A patron, a client; one who purchases or receives...
Ancestry of “customer”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | custumer | A customs officer; a collector of import or export duties |
| 2 | Old French | coustumier | — |
| 3 | Medieval Latin | custumarius | a toll-gatherer, tax-collector; pertaining to... |
| 4 | Latin | custuma | custom, tax |