Origin story
From mort gage, literally dead pledge: the pledge died when the debt was paid or the property was taken.
Why it sticks
A cheerful modern word with a very medieval little shadow.
Money
Mortgage word origin
Mortgage comes from Old French mort gage, often explained as a dead pledge: the pledge ended when the debt was paid or the property was taken.
Quick answer
Mortgage comes through Old French as a dead pledge. Learn the word origin, meaning history, and why the modern finance term sounds so dark.