baccalaureate

The story

1. Medieval Latin · derived frombaccalaureus
2. Medieval Latin · derived frombaccalaureātus
3. French · borrowed frombaccalauréat
4. English todaybaccalaureate

First attested in 1625; borrowed from French baccalauréat, from Medieval Latin baccalaureātus, from Medieval Latin baccalaureus, an alteration made to baccalārius (“young man aspiring to knighthood, apprentice, bachelor”) for it to resemble bacca lauri (“laurel berry”) (the ancient symbol of victory). See bachelor and -ate (forms nouns denoting rank or office).