Debut
/ˈdeɪ.bjuː/noun
A first public appearance or introduction, especially in a performance or career.
Did you know?Debut comes from French and is tied to the verb *débuter*, originally meaning to strike or break open a game/contest—so the word’s energy is less “soft introduction” and more “the moment the action begins.”
Etymological Timeline
Late Latin
Latin
buttis
“a cask or barrel”
Old French
Old French
but
“a target, mark, or end point”
Old French
Old French
débuter
“to begin, to strike the first blow; originally, to hit the target or start a game”
17th Century
French
début
“a beginning or first move; later, a first public appearance”
18th Century
English
debut
“a first public appearance or introduction”
Modern English
English
debut
“a first public appearance or introduction”