Where does “balance” come from?

balance (Chavacano) comes from Spanish balance, from French balancé, from Middle French balance, from Old French balance, from Late Latin bilancia, from Latin bilanx, from Latin bi-, from Ancient Greek κύκλος — to turn.

balance (Chavacano): balance; difference

Definitions

  1. balance; difference

Ancestry of “balance”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Spanishbalancebalance; balance; weighing up
2Frenchbalancépast participle of balancer
3Middle Frenchbalancescales
4Old Frenchbalancescales (weighing scales)
5Late Latinbilancia
6Latinbilanxhaving two scales; a balance with two scalepans
7Latinbi-having two parts; occurring twice
8Ancient Greekκύκλοςcircle, ring; Any circular object, such as a...
9Proto-Indo-Europeankʷékʷloswheel; circle
10Proto-Indo-Europeankʷel-to turn
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kʷel-
balance — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer