mantle
/ˈmæntəl/
noun
Origin
Latin
mantellum — cloak
Overview
Meaning Now
- A loose, sleeveless cloak or cape.
- Something that covers, envelops, or conceals.
- The layer of the earth between the crust and the core.
Literal older meaning
A cloak or covering
Language path
Latin → Old French → Middle English → English
Earliest form
mantel
Earliest period
12th century
Journey
The term has evolved from its literal reference to a medieval garment to a metaphorical term for authority (e.g., 'taking up the mantle of leadership') and a technical term in geology describing the interior of the planet.
Evolution
- Latin
mantellum
“a cloak, mantle”
Possibly of Gaulish origin.
- Old French
mantel
“cloak, cover”
Introduced to English via Norman Conquest.
- Middle English
mantel
“a long loose garment”
Used widely in literature of the period.
- English
mantle
“cloak, protective covering, geological layer”
Spelling stabilized as mantle by the 16th century.
Connections
Word parts
mantle
root
cloak or cover
Related across languages
French
manteau
coat or mantle
Spanish
mantel
tablecloth
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Related to mantle
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.