Where does “premier” come from?

Premier comes from Middle French premier, meaning first or foremost.

premier (English): Foremost; first or highest in quality or degree;...

Definitions

Step	Language	Word	Meaning
1	French	premier	first; prime; premier
2	Middle French	premier	first
3	Old French	premier	first; beginning; start
4	Latin	prīmārius	—
5	Latin	prīmus	—
6	Latin	prīsmos	—
7	Proto-Italic	priisemos	foremost, first
8	Proto-Indo-European	per-	before, in front; first; to go through
9	Proto-Indo-European	pr̥tós	passed , crossed

premier — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer