Etymology

rudiment

ru·di·ment
R1U1D2I1M3E1N1T1

Today it means: A fundamental principle or skill, especially in a field of learning. Full definition →

Old French rudiment ← Latin rudimentum
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The story

  1. Latin · derived fromrudimentum“a first attempt, a beginning”
  2. Old French · derived fromrudiment
  3. English todayrudiment

From Old French rudiment, from Latin rudimentum (“a first attempt, a beginning”), plural rudimenta (“the elements”), from rudis (“rude”); see rude. By surface analysis, rude + -i- + -ment.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.