Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Vespa” come from?

Vespa derives from Italian vespa, from Latin vespa, which traces to Proto-Indo-European roots related to wobʰseh₂ and webʰ-.

Vespa (English): An Italian motor scooter

Definitions

  1. An Italian motor scooter

Ancestry of “Vespa”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Italianvespawasp; motor scooter
2Latinvespawasp
3Proto-Indo-Europeanwobʰséh₂—
4Proto-Indo-Europeanwebʰ-to weave, braid

Words derived from “Vespa”

  • vespoid
Every word from Proto-Indo-European webʰ- →