beau
The origin and history of beau.
Etymology
From French beau, "handsome" or "fine," going back to Latin bellus ("beautiful"). English borrowed it whole in the 17th century for a fashionable man, and it later softened into the word for a boyfriend or suitor.
Class of 1600
beau first entered the language around 1600. Other words from the same year:
See the full Class of 1600 →