Where does “ballad” come from?

Ballad comes from French ballade, from Old Occitan ballada, from Late Latin ballare meaning to dance, from Ancient Greek βάλλω meaning to throw, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European gʷelH-.

ballad (English): A kind of narrative poem, adapted for recitation...

Definitions

  1. A kind of narrative poem, adapted for recitation...

Ancestry of “ballad”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchballadeballade; ballad
2Old Occitanballadapoem for a dance
3Late Latinballareto play, dance; to dance; present active...
4Ancient Greekβαλλίζωto dance, jump about
5Proto-Indo-EuropeangʷelH-to throw, reach, pierce; to hit by throwing

Words derived from “ballad”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷelH- →Every word from Ancient Greek βαλλίζω →Every word from Late Latin ballare →
ballad — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer