random

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*(H)r̥-nw-“to flow, move, run”
2. Proto-Germanic · derived from*randijō
3. Old Norse · derived fromrend“a run, race”
4. Frankish · derived from*randiju“a run, race”
5. Old French · derived fromrandon
6. Middle English · inherited fromrandoun
7. English todayrandom

From earlier randon, from Middle English randoun, raundon, from Old French randon, from randir (“to run, gallop”) (whence French randonnée (“long walk, hike”)), from Frankish *randiju (“a run, race”) or Old Norse rend (“a run, race”), both from Proto-Germanic *randijō, from *rinnaną (“run”, verb), from Proto-Indo-European *(H)r̥-nw- (“to flow, move, run”). Cognate with Middle Low German uprinden (“to jump up”), Danish rende (“to run”). See run.

First known use, by meaning

• 14th–17th c. Speed, full speed; impetuosity, force.
• 16th–19th c. The full range of a bullet or other projectile; hence, the angle at which a weapon is tilted to allow the greatest range.
• from 20th c. An undefined, unknown or unimportant person; a person of no consequence.