Many expressions used in English today have their origin in Anglo-Norman (such as the expression "before-hand", which derives from Anglo-Norman "avaunt-main"), as do many modern words with interesting etymologies. "Mortgage", for example, literally meant "death-wage" in Anglo-Norman. "Curfew" (fr. "couvre-feu") meant "cover-fire", referring to the time in the evening when all fires had to be covered to prevent the spread of fire within communities with timber buildings. The word "glamour" is derived from Anglo-Norman "grammeire", the same word which gives us modern "grammar"; "glamour" meant first "book learning" and then the most glamorous form of book learning, "magic" or "magic spell" in Medieval times.