Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “triage” come from?

Triage comes from French triage, derived from French trier, meaning to sort or separate, from Middle French trier, Old French trier, Latin triare, Latin trito, Latin tritus, and ultimately Latin tero, meaning to rub or wear away.

triage (English): Assessment or sorting according to quality; The...

Definitions

  1. Assessment or sorting according to quality; The...

Ancestry of “triage”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchtriagetriage; sorting; classification, marshalling;...
2Frenchtrierto sort, to sort out; to grade; to calibrate
3Middle Frenchtrier—
4Old Frenchtrierto choose; to select; to sort; to find
5Latintriareto pick out
6Latintritodative masculine singular of trītus; dative...
7Latintritusrubbed, triturated; worn out or away, well-worn
8LatinteroI rub or triturate; I wear away or wear out; I...
9Proto-Indo-Europeanterh₁-to rub, turn; to drill, pierce

Words derived from “triage”

  • undertriage
Every word from Proto-Indo-European terh₁- →