etymology · 1300s–1500s
hazard
Drift #5 · May 17, 2026 · abstract
Meaning comparison
Today it means
a danger; a source of risk
It used to mean (1300s–1500s)
a dice game; a game of chance
Etymology
'Hazard' entered English from Old French 'hasard' — a dice game — which came from Spanish 'azar' (ill luck at dice), itself from Arabic 'az-zahr' (the die). The unpredictable outcome of the game gradually generalised to mean any risky or uncertain situation.
The Drift
How the meaning shifted over time
the drift
1300sa dice game
1400srisk or chance in a game
1500sany uncertain or dangerous situation
1600s+a source of danger; a risk
In Historical Context
He spent his evenings at hazard, throwing the dice in smoky taverns and wagering what little coin he had.
drift fact
The same Arabic root 'az-zahr' may also be linked to 'azure' — the blue colour of the sky, or perhaps the blue of certain dice.
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