Where does “bi” come from?
Bi derives from Mandarin 璧, a Chinese term for a circular jade disk with a hole in the center, used in ancient rituals and as a symbol of value.
bi (English): Bisexual; A bisexual person; A type of jade disk...
Definitions
- Bisexual; A bisexual person; A type of jade disk...
Ancestry of “bi”, step by step
bi traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English biceps
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | biceps | Any muscle having two heads; Specifically, the... |
| 2 | Latin | biceps | double-headed, having two heads; having two... |
| 3 | Latin | bis | twice, two times, on two occasions, in two ways |
| 4 | Latin | color | colour, shade; color; pigment; complexion |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | μέτρον | something used to measure: measure, rule, weight;... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | -τρον | Forms instrument nouns |
| 7 | Proto-Hellenic | -tron | Forms instrument nouns from verb stems |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | -trom | Forms nouns denoting a tool or instrument |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | -tḗr | Derives agent nouns from verbs, denoting someone... |
via Mandarin 璧
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mandarin | 璧 | — |