Etymology

passant

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Today it means: Walking, usually to the right, and looking straight ahead with the right forepaw raised from the ground. Full definition →

First used 15th c.Middle English passaunt ← Old French passant
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The story

  1. Old French · derived frompassant
  2. Middle English · inherited frompassaunt
  3. English todaypassant

From Middle English passaunt (c. 1300), from Old French passant.

First known use, by meaning

  • from 15th c. Walking, usually to the right, and looking straight ahead with the right forepaw raised from the ground.
  • 17th–19th c. Currently in use; in vogue.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.