Where does “βελοσφενδόνη” come from?

βελοσφενδόνη (Ancient Greek) comes from Ancient Greek βέλος, from Proto-Indo-European gʷélHos, from Proto-Indo-European gʷelH- — to throw, reach, pierce; to hit by throwing.

βελοσφενδόνη (Ancient Greek): dart wrapped with pitch and tow, and thrown while on fire from an engine

Definitions

  1. dart wrapped with pitch and tow, and thrown while on fire from an engine

Ancestry of “βελοσφενδόνη”, step by step

βελοσφενδόνη traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Ancient Greek βέλος

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient Greekβέλοςmissile, arrow, dart; weapon; something quickly...
2Proto-Indo-EuropeangʷélHos
3Proto-Indo-EuropeangʷelH-to throw, reach, pierce; to hit by throwing

via Ancient Greek σφενδόνη

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient Greekσφενδόνηa sling; anything fundiform; a slingstone
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷelH-Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷélHosEvery word from Ancient Greek βέλος