mesel

The story

1. Late Latin · derived frommisellus“leper”
2. Old French · derived frommesel“leprous, leper”
3. Norman · derived frommesel“leprous, leper”
4. Middle English · inherited frommesel“leprous, leper”
5. English todaymesel

From Middle English mesel (“leprous, leper”), from Norman mesel (“leprous, leper”), from Old French mesel (“leprous, leper”), from Late Latin misellus (“leper”), from miser (“wretched, wretch”) + -ellus (“-elle”). Doublet of measles.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• 14th–17th c. Synonym of leprous: having leprosy or a similar skin disorder.