hostage
The origin and history of hostage.
Etymology
From Old French hostage, likely tracing back either to hoste ("host," via the idea of someone taken into "lodging" turning into captivity) or to a Latin word for "captive."
The origin and history of hostage.
From Old French hostage, likely tracing back either to hoste ("host," via the idea of someone taken into "lodging" turning into captivity) or to a Latin word for "captive."