Is 'disaster' English, or is it actually Italian?

'Disaster' is a word borrowed from Italian 'disastro'. The word entered the English language some time around 1568.

disaster [noun] [1568]

• an unfavorable aspect of a planet or star
• a sudden calamitous event bringing great damage, loss, or destruction
• a sudden or great misfortune or failure

Meaning: an unfavorable aspect of a planet or star; a sudden calamitous event bringing great damage; loss; or destruction; a sudden or great misfortune or failure the party was a disaster.

Etymology: Middle French & Old Italian; Middle French desastre; from Old Italian disastro; from dis- (from Latin) + astro star; from Latin astrum astral.

Topics: Society:Culture.

Origin: From Italian to English.

See 'disaster' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Italian.

See more loan words from 1500s.