Where does “albatross” come from?
Albatross comes from Latin albus meaning white, via Ancient Greek -ίτης and πολῑ́της, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₂élbʰos meaning bright or shining.
albatross (English): Any of various large seabirds of the family...
Definitions
- Any of various large seabirds of the family...
Ancestry of “albatross”, step by step
albatross traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Spanish alcatraz
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spanish | alcatraz | gannet; roll of paper, paper cone, cornet; arum |
| 2 | Arabic | قرطاس | paper, page; book, scroll, parchment; papyrus |
| 3 | Arabic | قِرْطَاس | paper, page |
| 4 | Aramaic | קַרְטֵיסָא | — |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | χάρτης | sheet of paper, paper; book |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | χαράσσω | to sharpen; to engrave, carve, write, draw, stamp |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵʰer- | to yearn for; to enclose; bowels, intestines |
via Portuguese alcatraz
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portuguese | alcatraz | any of several species of seabird; bonesetter |
| 2 | Arabic | الْغَطَّاس | — |