Where does “relish” come from?
Relish comes from Middle English reles, from Old French relais, from Old French relaisser, meaning to release or leave behind.
relish (English): A pleasant taste; enjoyment; pleasure; A quality...
Definitions
- A pleasant taste; enjoyment; pleasure; A quality...
Ancestry of “relish”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | release | The event of setting free; The distribution of... |
| 2 | Middle English | reles | scent, taste, aftertaste |
| 3 | Old French | relais | — |
| 4 | Old French | reles | something remaining, that which is left behind |
| 5 | Old French | relaisser | Alternative form of relaschier; to leave behind |
| 6 | Latin | relaxāre | — |
| 7 | Latin | rĕ- | back, backwards |
| 8 | Latin | prōdūcō | to lead or bring forth, forward or out |
| 9 | Latin | prō- | forward direction, forward movement |
| 10 | Proto-Italic | *pro- | pro- see the Latin entry for further meanings |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | pro- | toward, forward |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | por- | to give birth; forward, through; going, passage |
| 13 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 14 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |