Where does “bike” come from?
Bike is a shortening of bicycle, which combines Latin bi- (two) and Ancient Greek κύκλος (circle), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European kʷel- (to turn or move around).
bike (English): Clipping of bicycle; Clipping of motorbike;...
Definitions
- Clipping of bicycle; Clipping of motorbike;...
Ancestry of “bike”, step by step
bike traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English bicycle
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | bicycle | A vehicle that has two wheels, one behind the... |
| 2 | French | bicycle | bicycle |
| 3 | French | bi- | bi |
| 4 | Latin | bis | twice, two times, on two occasions, in two ways |
| 5 | Latin | color | colour, shade; color; pigment; complexion |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | μέτρον | something used to measure: measure, rule, weight;... |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | -τρον | Forms instrument nouns |
| 8 | Proto-Hellenic | -tron | Forms instrument nouns from verb stems |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | -trom | Forms nouns denoting a tool or instrument |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | -tḗr | Derives agent nouns from verbs, denoting someone... |
via Middle English bike
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | bike | — |