Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “bireme” come from?

bireme (English) comes from Latin biremis, from Latin bi-, from Ancient Greek κύκλος, from Proto-Indo-European kʷékʷlos, from Proto-Indo-European kʷel- — to turn.

bireme (English): an ancient galley having two banks of oars, one...

Definitions

  1. an ancient galley having two banks of oars, one...

Ancestry of “bireme”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinbiremishaving two banks of oars; bireme
2Latinbi-having two parts; occurring twice
3Ancient Greekκύκλοςcircle, ring; Any circular object, such as a...
4Proto-Indo-Europeankʷékʷloswheel; circle
5Proto-Indo-Europeankʷel-to turn
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kʷel- →