Where does “gamba” come from?

gamba (Dutch) comes from French gamba, from Spanish gamba, from Catalan gamba, from Italian gamba, from Latin gamba, from Ancient Greek κάμπη, from Proto-Indo-European kh₂emp-, from Proto-Indo-European kh₂em- — to bend, to curve.

gamba (Dutch): viola da gamba; scampi, prawn

Definitions

  1. viola da gamba; scampi, prawn

Ancestry of “gamba”, step by step

gamba traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via French gamba

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchgambalarge prawn
2Spanishgambashrimp; leg; 100 pesos
3Catalangambaleg; shrimp
4Italiangambaleg
5Latingambahock, shank; leg, thigh
6Ancient Greekκάμπηcaterpillar; silkworm; an eruciform ornament
7Proto-Indo-Europeankh₂emp-to bend; crooked; to bend, curve
8Proto-Indo-Europeankh₂em-to bend, to curve

via Portuguese gambá

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Portuguesegambáopossum; skunk; A kind of drum consisting of a...
2Vulgar Latingambarus
3Latin[[gammarus]], [[cammarus]]

via Italian viola da gamba

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Italianviola da gambaviola da gamba
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kh₂em-Every word from Proto-Indo-European kh₂emp-Every word from Ancient Greek κάμπη
gamba — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer