Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “pelf” come from?

Pelf comes from Old French peufre, whose origin and original meaning remain uncertain.

pelf (English): Money, riches; gain, especially when dishonestly...

Definitions

  1. Money, riches; gain, especially when dishonestly...

Ancestry of “pelf”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishpelf—
2Old Frenchpeufrefrippery; rubbish

Words derived from “pelf”

  • pelfish
Every word from Old French peufre →