Haut
/oʊ/noun
A French-derived English adjective meaning high, elevated, or sophisticated, especially in phrases such as haute couture.
Did you know?French haut ultimately traces to Latin altus, the same root behind altitude, alto, altar, and exalt—so “high fashion” belongs to a surprisingly vertical family of words.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*al-
“To grow or nourish; a reconstructed root associated with rising or becoming tall”
Classical Latin
Latin
altus
“High, lofty, deep, or grown tall; the past participle of alere, “to nourish””
Old French
Old French
halt / haut
“High or lofty; the form was reinforced by a Germanic word related to “high””
Middle English
Anglo-French
haut
“High, elevated, or noble; used in French-influenced English contexts”
19th Century
English
haut
“Borrowed or revived in English compounds referring to elite society, style, or culture”
Modern English
English
haut
“High-end or sophisticated, especially in expressions such as haut couture and haut monde”