Vault
/vɔːlt/noun
A strong room or chamber for storing valuables; also an arched ceiling or roof.
Did you know?The English word vault comes through Old French from Latin volvere, “to roll/turn,” the same ancient root behind words like revolve and voluble, so its history is literally about motion before it became about security.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wel-
“to turn, roll, or revolve”
Latin
Latin
volvĕre
“to roll, turn over, revolve”
Late Latin
Latin
volta
“a turn, a vaulting arch”
Old French
Old French
volte
“a turn; a leap; an arched ceiling”
Middle English
English
vaute
“an arched roof or ceiling”
Modern English
English
vault
“an arched structure or a secure chamber for valuables”