veteran (English)
Where does "veteran" come from?
The word 'veteran' traces its roots back to the Proto-Indo-European term for 'year.' Through the Latin 'vetus,' which meant 'old' or 'having accumulated many years,' it evolved into 'veteranus' to describe someone with long service. This Latin term eventually entered English through Middle French, refining its meaning to the experienced individual we recognize today.
Full etymology tree
- veteran (English), 'Having had long experience, practice, or service.'
- borrowed vétéran (Middle French)
- inherited veterānus (Latin), 'old, veteran'
- derived vetus (Latin), 'old, aged, elderly, ancient'
- inherited *wetos (Proto-Italic), 'year'
- inherited *wétos (Proto-Indo-European), 'year'
- inherited *wetos (Proto-Italic), 'year'
- suffix -ānus (Latin), 'Of or pertaining to; -ian; usually indicates a relationship of origin, position, or possession.'
- derived vetus (Latin), 'old, aged, elderly, ancient'
- inherited veterānus (Latin), 'old, veteran'
- borrowed vétéran (Middle French)
Direct ancestors
Updated July 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris