Etymology

chant

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Today it means: To sing, especially without instruments, and as applied to monophonic and pre-modern music. Full definition →

Middle English chaunten ← Old French chanter ← Latin cantāre
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chant · verb, noun1

  1. Latin · derived fromcantāre“sing”
  2. Old French · derived fromchanter
  3. Middle English · inherited fromchaunten
  4. English todaychant

From Middle English chaunten, from Old French chanter, from Latin cantāre (“sing”). Doublet of cant.

Chant · proper noun2

  1. French · derived fromchant“song, melody”
  2. English todayChant

Probably a nickname from French chant (“song, melody”).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.