Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Punch” come from?

Punch comes from Italian Pulcinella, derived from Neapolitan Pulecenella, a character in commedia dell'arte whose name origin remains uncertain.

Ancestry of “Punch”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpuncheonA figured stamp, die, or punch, used by...
2Middle Englishpunchoun—
3Old Frenchponchonpuncheon
4Latinpunctiō—
5Latin-tiō—
6Latindissertātiō—
7Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
8Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
9Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
10Latincalceusshoe
11Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
12Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “Punch”

  • Punchman
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →