Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “barbell” come from?

barbell (English) comes from English dumbbell, from English dumb, from English damn, from Middle English dampnen, from Old French dampner, from Latin damnō, from Latin damnum, from Proto-Italic dapnom — to share, divide.

barbell (English): A wide steel bar with premeasured weights affixed...

Definitions

  1. A wide steel bar with premeasured weights affixed...

Ancestry of “barbell”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishdumbbellA weight training implement consisting of a short...
2EnglishdumbUnable to speak; lacking power of speech; Silent;...
3EnglishdamnTo condemn to hell; To condemn; to declare...
4Middle Englishdampnento damn
5Old Frenchdampnerto damn
6Latindamnō—
7Latindamnumdamage or injury; loss; a fine
8Proto-Italicdapnom—
9Proto-Indo-Europeandh₂pnómexpense, investment
10Proto-Indo-Europeandeh₂p-to sacrifice; to lose
11Proto-Indo-Europeandeh₂-to share, divide

Words derived from “barbell”

  • nanobarbell
Every word from Proto-Indo-European deh₂- →