The word derives via Middle English and Anglo-French from the Latin noun victus, meaning "nourishment" or "way of living." Victus derives from the verb vivere, which means "to live" and which is the source of a whole smorgasbord of other English words like vital, vivid, and survive.

Where did the expression vittles come from?

Vittles Definition

Vittles is an old-time word for food which we tend to associate with the rural South, cowboys, pioneers, mountain men, and the like. It actually comes from Middle English, by way of French.

Why is victual pronounced?

Spelling altered early 16c. to conform with Latin, but pronunciation remains "vittles." Vitaille had no "c", and hence its English form was pronounced "vittle".