map
/mæp/
noun
Origin
Latin
mappa — napkin, cloth, or signal cloth
Overview
Meaning Now
- A diagrammatic representation of an area of land or sea showing physical features, cities, roads, etc.
- A graphical representation of data or the logical structure of a system.
Literal older meaning
a napkin or cloth
Language path
Latin → Middle French → English
Earliest form
mappe
Earliest period
16th century
Journey
The word is a shortening of the Latin 'mappa mundi'. In ancient times, maps were frequently rendered on physical cloths or tapestries, leading to the use of 'mappa' (napkin/cloth) to describe the medium and subsequently the drawing itself.
Evolution
- Latin
mappa
“napkin or table cloth”
- Medieval Latin
mappa mundi
“cloth of the world / world map”
Original maps were often drawn on cloth.
- Middle French
mappe
“map”
- English
map
“a diagrammatic representation of an area”
First recorded in English in the 16th century.
Connections
Word parts
map
root
representation of an area
Related across languages
French
mappe
map
Spanish
mapa
map
Explore next
Related to map
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.