Where does “centaur” come from?

Centaur comes from Latin centaurus, from Ancient Greek κένταυρος or Κένταυρος, related to Ancient Greek κεντέω and ultimately Proto-Indo-European táwros meaning bull.

centaur (English): A mythical beast having a horse's body with a...

Definitions

  1. A mythical beast having a horse's body with a...

Ancestry of “centaur”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latincentaurusa centaur
2Ancient GreekΚένταυροςCentaur, a member of a savage race dwelling...
3Ancient Greekταῦροςbull, perhaps also ox
4Proto-Hellenictáurosbull
5Proto-Indo-Europeantáwroswild bull, aurochs
Every word from Proto-Indo-European táwros →Every word from Proto-Hellenic táuros →Every word from Ancient Greek ταῦρος →