Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “binocular” come from?

Binocular comes from French binoculaire, from Latin binus meaning "double," derived from Proto-Indo-European dwóh₁ meaning "two."

binocular (English): Using two eyes or viewpoints; especially, using...

Definitions

  1. Using two eyes or viewpoints; especially, using...

Ancestry of “binocular”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchbinoculairebinocular
2Frenchoculaireocular; eye
3Latinoculāris—
4LatinoculusAn eye; the power of sight; a spot resembling an...
5Proto-Italicokʷeloseye
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃ókʷseye
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃ekʷ-to see; eye

Words derived from “binocular”

  • binocularity
  • binocularly
  • binoculared
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₃ekʷ- →