Etymology of ambulance
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For a while I have been curious about the etymology of the English word 'ambulance' since it seems to be derived from the Latin word 'ambulare' (to walk). This seems a strange origin for the word. People who require medical attention are generally unable to move, much less walk. How did this word end up having the meaning it possesses?
classical-latin etymologia history english
edited Mar 13 at 11:45
luchonacho
6,15751560
asked Mar 13 at 11:34
StumblerStumbler
1433
|
show 1 more comment
For a while I have been curious about the etymology of the English word 'ambulance' since it seems to be derived from the Latin word 'ambulare' (to walk). This seems a strange origin for the word. People who require medical attention are generally unable to move, much less walk. How did this word end up having the meaning it possesses?
classical-latin etymologia history english
edited Mar 13 at 11:45
luchonacho
6,15751560
asked Mar 13 at 11:34
StumblerStumbler
1433
I have edited the title, as it wasn't clear it's relevance to the question. Feel free to undo.
– luchonacho
Mar 13 at 11:46
1
@luchonacho I thought it added a bit of levity
– Stumbler
Mar 13 at 11:51
1
'walker' is not the one who require medical attention, but one who provides it (a doctor).
– hvertous
Mar 13 at 14:43
2
Interestingly, in health services, ambulatory medicine is for patients that don't need and ambulance or a hospital.
– Pere
Mar 13 at 18:03
@Pere Interesting indeed! Maybe because they are able to... ambulare? hehe
– luchonacho
Mar 13 at 18:28
|
show 1 more comment
For a while I have been curious about the etymology of the English word 'ambulance' since it seems to be derived from the Latin word 'ambulare' (to walk). This seems a strange origin for the word. People who require medical attention are generally unable to move, much less walk. How did this word end up having the meaning it possesses?
classical-latin etymologia history english
edited Mar 13 at 11:45
luchonacho
6,15751560
asked Mar 13 at 11:34
StumblerStumbler
1433
For a while I have been curious about the etymology of the English word 'ambulance' since it seems to be derived from the Latin word 'ambulare' (to walk). This seems a strange origin for the word. People who require medical attention are generally unable to move, much less walk. How did this word end up having the meaning it possesses?
classical-latin etymologia history english
classical-latin etymologia history english
edited Mar 13 at 11:45
luchonacho
6,15751560
asked Mar 13 at 11:34
StumblerStumbler
1433
edited Mar 13 at 11:45
luchonacho
6,15751560
asked Mar 13 at 11:34
StumblerStumbler
1433
edited Mar 13 at 11:45
luchonacho
6,15751560
edited Mar 13 at 11:45
luchonacho
6,15751560
edited Mar 13 at 11:45
luchonacho
6,15751560
6,15751560
asked Mar 13 at 11:34
StumblerStumbler
1433
asked Mar 13 at 11:34
StumblerStumbler
1433
asked Mar 13 at 11:34
StumblerStumbler
1433
1433
I have edited the title, as it wasn't clear it's relevance to the question. Feel free to undo.
– luchonacho
Mar 13 at 11:46
1
@luchonacho I thought it added a bit of levity
– Stumbler
Mar 13 at 11:51
1
'walker' is not the one who require medical attention, but one who provides it (a doctor).
– hvertous
Mar 13 at 14:43
2
Interestingly, in health services, ambulatory medicine is for patients that don't need and ambulance or a hospital.
– Pere
Mar 13 at 18:03
@Pere Interesting indeed! Maybe because they are able to... ambulare? hehe
– luchonacho
Mar 13 at 18:28
|
show 1 more comment
I have edited the title, as it wasn't clear it's relevance to the question. Feel free to undo.
– luchonacho
Mar 13 at 11:46
1
@luchonacho I thought it added a bit of levity
– Stumbler
Mar 13 at 11:51
1
'walker' is not the one who require medical attention, but one who provides it (a doctor).
– hvertous
Mar 13 at 14:43
2
Interestingly, in health services, ambulatory medicine is for patients that don't need and ambulance or a hospital.
– Pere
Mar 13 at 18:03
@Pere Interesting indeed! Maybe because they are able to... ambulare? hehe
– luchonacho
Mar 13 at 18:28
I have edited the title, as it wasn't clear it's relevance to the question. Feel free to undo.
– luchonacho
Mar 13 at 11:46
I have edited the title, as it wasn't clear it's relevance to the question. Feel free to undo.
– luchonacho
Mar 13 at 11:46
1
1
@luchonacho I thought it added a bit of levity
– Stumbler
Mar 13 at 11:51
@luchonacho I thought it added a bit of levity
– Stumbler
Mar 13 at 11:51
1
1
'walker' is not the one who require medical attention, but one who provides it (a doctor).
– hvertous
Mar 13 at 14:43
'walker' is not the one who require medical attention, but one who provides it (a doctor).
– hvertous
Mar 13 at 14:43
2
2
Interestingly, in health services, ambulatory medicine is for patients that don't need and ambulance or a hospital.
– Pere
Mar 13 at 18:03
Interestingly, in health services, ambulatory medicine is for patients that don't need and ambulance or a hospital.
– Pere
Mar 13 at 18:03
@Pere Interesting indeed! Maybe because they are able to... ambulare? hehe
– luchonacho
Mar 13 at 18:28
@Pere Interesting indeed! Maybe because they are able to... ambulare? hehe
– luchonacho
Mar 13 at 18:28
|
show 1 more comment
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
According to this XIX century book (a period when ambulances were still driven by horses):
So it might be related to the fact that ambulances were going around by walking (of horses).
It seems, however, that the word enter into English from French (which itself comes from Latin) in the XIX century. At least that's what the Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology says (here, although paywalled):
moving hospital accompanying an army; vehicle to convey injured. XIX. — F. ambulance, repl. hôpital ambulant ‘walking hospital’, earlier hôpital ambulatoire; F. ambulant — prp. of L. ambulāre walk
More about the French word ambulance can be found here.
answered Mar 13 at 11:43
luchonacholuchonacho
6,15751560
1
Similar information not behind a paywall: etymonline.com/word/ambulance
– Carsten S
Mar 13 at 15:02
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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active
oldest
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
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oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
According to this XIX century book (a period when ambulances were still driven by horses):
So it might be related to the fact that ambulances were going around by walking (of horses).
It seems, however, that the word enter into English from French (which itself comes from Latin) in the XIX century. At least that's what the Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology says (here, although paywalled):
moving hospital accompanying an army; vehicle to convey injured. XIX. — F. ambulance, repl. hôpital ambulant ‘walking hospital’, earlier hôpital ambulatoire; F. ambulant — prp. of L. ambulāre walk
More about the French word ambulance can be found here.
answered Mar 13 at 11:43
luchonacholuchonacho
6,15751560
1
Similar information not behind a paywall: etymonline.com/word/ambulance
– Carsten S
Mar 13 at 15:02
add a comment |
According to this XIX century book (a period when ambulances were still driven by horses):
So it might be related to the fact that ambulances were going around by walking (of horses).
It seems, however, that the word enter into English from French (which itself comes from Latin) in the XIX century. At least that's what the Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology says (here, although paywalled):
moving hospital accompanying an army; vehicle to convey injured. XIX. — F. ambulance, repl. hôpital ambulant ‘walking hospital’, earlier hôpital ambulatoire; F. ambulant — prp. of L. ambulāre walk
More about the French word ambulance can be found here.
answered Mar 13 at 11:43
luchonacholuchonacho
6,15751560
1
Similar information not behind a paywall: etymonline.com/word/ambulance
– Carsten S
Mar 13 at 15:02
add a comment |
According to this XIX century book (a period when ambulances were still driven by horses):
So it might be related to the fact that ambulances were going around by walking (of horses).
It seems, however, that the word enter into English from French (which itself comes from Latin) in the XIX century. At least that's what the Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology says (here, although paywalled):
moving hospital accompanying an army; vehicle to convey injured. XIX. — F. ambulance, repl. hôpital ambulant ‘walking hospital’, earlier hôpital ambulatoire; F. ambulant — prp. of L. ambulāre walk
More about the French word ambulance can be found here.
answered Mar 13 at 11:43
luchonacholuchonacho
6,15751560
According to this XIX century book (a period when ambulances were still driven by horses):
So it might be related to the fact that ambulances were going around by walking (of horses).
It seems, however, that the word enter into English from French (which itself comes from Latin) in the XIX century. At least that's what the Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology says (here, although paywalled):
moving hospital accompanying an army; vehicle to convey injured. XIX. — F. ambulance, repl. hôpital ambulant ‘walking hospital’, earlier hôpital ambulatoire; F. ambulant — prp. of L. ambulāre walk
More about the French word ambulance can be found here.
answered Mar 13 at 11:43
luchonacholuchonacho
6,15751560
edited Mar 13 at 11:50
answered Mar 13 at 11:43
luchonacholuchonacho
6,15751560
answered Mar 13 at 11:43
luchonacholuchonacho
6,15751560
answered Mar 13 at 11:43
luchonacholuchonacho
6,15751560
6,15751560
1
Similar information not behind a paywall: etymonline.com/word/ambulance
– Carsten S
Mar 13 at 15:02
add a comment |
1
Similar information not behind a paywall: etymonline.com/word/ambulance
– Carsten S
Mar 13 at 15:02
1
1
Similar information not behind a paywall: etymonline.com/word/ambulance
– Carsten S
Mar 13 at 15:02
Similar information not behind a paywall: etymonline.com/word/ambulance
– Carsten S
Mar 13 at 15:02
add a comment |
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I have edited the title, as it wasn't clear it's relevance to the question. Feel free to undo.
– luchonacho
Mar 13 at 11:46
1
@luchonacho I thought it added a bit of levity
– Stumbler
Mar 13 at 11:51
1
'walker' is not the one who require medical attention, but one who provides it (a doctor).
– hvertous
Mar 13 at 14:43
2
Interestingly, in health services, ambulatory medicine is for patients that don't need and ambulance or a hospital.
– Pere
Mar 13 at 18:03
@Pere Interesting indeed! Maybe because they are able to... ambulare? hehe
– luchonacho
Mar 13 at 18:28