pavilion

The story

1. Latin · derived frompāpiliōnem
2. Anglo-Norman · derived frompavilloun
3. Middle English · inherited frompavilloun
4. English todaypavilion

From Middle English pavilloun, from Anglo-Norman pavilloun, from Latin pāpiliōnem, form of pāpiliō (“butterfly, moth”) (due to resemblance of tent to a butterfly’s wings), of unknown origin. Doublet of papilio and papillon. Cognate to French pavillon (“pavilion”) and papillon (“butterfly”), and similar terms in other Romance languages.