Cabin
/ˈkæbɪn/noun
A small house or enclosed room, especially one used for shelter or on a ship.
Did you know?The word entered English through Anglo-French and Old French as a term for a small hut or shelter, and its exact deeper origin is uncertain, which makes it one of those everyday words with a shadowy linguistic backstory.
Etymological Timeline
Late Middle English
English
cabin
“A small shelter or hut, especially on a ship or in the woods”
Old French
OF
cabane
“A hut, cottage, or small shelter”
Medieval Latin
ML
capanna
“A hut or cabin”
Classical Latin
Latin
cappa
“A hood or cloak; source of several later words for coverings and shelters”
Modern English
English
cabin
“A small enclosed room or dwelling”