Why "entrepreneur" is a french word?

I just thought everyone use a french word to qualify …hmmmm an “entrepreneur”. Why? i searched in wikipedia and could not find the answer.

Does someone know? is it for style?  is it historical? it is definitely not because of the French model when you see how complicate it is to create a company in France compared to UK/USA.

Any answer would be appreciated.

Comments

[Cliffer]

"it is definitely not because of the French model..."

Why we are using a french word ... well it is because of something called "History" (stuff that helps you to understand bunch of mess nowdays)

nevermind, about the word Entrepreneur, it is quite interresting, to follow how the meanings have changed, it was first created in the middle age, where it was a very positive term where it means "the one that assume the work" then it evolves in different meaning as it was reserved for some kind of speculators, and end up as the one that gives the orders rather than really assuming it, even if in the case of small modern entities the "entrepreneur" is the one that assume the work too.

[Himanshu]

Maybe it comes from sanskrit ( ancient indian language) word "antarprerna" which means "inspiration from inside". Semantically also it makes sense. Phonetically also it sounds similar.

[Jeremy Fain]

Jean-Baptiste Say used the word "Entrepreneur" first to define himself, after starting up a business in the wool industry. That's where it all comes from.