Where does “Belle” come from?
Belle comes from French belle, the feminine form of bel, derived from Latin bellus, meaning "beautiful" or "handsome."
Belle (English): An attractive woman
Definitions
- An attractive woman
Ancestry of “Belle”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | belle | feminine singular of beau; beautiful woman,... |
| 2 | Latin | bella | nominative plural of bellum; accusative plural of... |
| 3 | Latin | bellum | war; nominative neuter singular of bellus;... |
| 4 | Latin | bellus | beautiful, pretty, handsome; pleasant, agreeable,... |
| 5 | Latin | villus | hair, tuft of hair, shaggy hair |
| 6 | Latin | vellus | The wool shorn from a sheep; fleece; wool; The... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂welh₁- | to rule; strong, powerful; hair; wool |