Etymology Explorer › French

Where does “marais” come from?

marais (French) comes from Middle French marais, from Old French mareis, from Medieval Latin mariscus, from Frankish marisk, from Proto-Germanic mari, from Proto-Indo-European móri, from Proto-Indo-European mer- — to die; to disappear; sea, lake, wetland.

marais (French): swamp, marsh; land suitable for growing primeur...

Definitions

  1. swamp, marsh; land suitable for growing primeur...

Ancestry of “marais”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchmarais—
2Old Frenchmareismarsh
3Medieval LatinmariscusAlternative form of mariscos
4Frankishmariskmarsh, swamp; lake-like, marshy
5Proto-Germanicmarisea, ocean; lake, body of water
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmórisea; standing water
7Proto-Indo-Europeanmer-to die; to disappear; sea, lake, wetland

Words derived from “marais”

  • Grand Marais
  • marese
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mer- →