almain

The story

1. Late Latin · derived fromAlamannia“territory of the Alamanni tribe”
2. Old French · derived fromAlemaigne
3. Anglo-Norman · derived fromAllemaine
4. Middle English · inherited fromAlemaine
5. English todayAlmain

From Middle English Alemaine, Almayne, from Anglo-Norman Allemaine, Almaine et al., Old French Alemaigne, from Late Latin Alamannia (“territory of the Alamanni tribe”), from Alemannī, Allemannī, of Germanic origin probably corresponding to all + men. Compare Alemannic.

First known use, by meaning

• from 13th c. Germany.
• from 14th c. A German.
• from 16th c. A kind of dance. See allemande.
• from 15th c. German.