Where does “bowling” come from?
Bowling derives from English bowl, which comes from Middle English bolle, Old English bolla, and Latin bulla, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European bʰel-.
bowling (English): present participle of bowl; A game played by...
Definitions
- present participle of bowl; A game played by...
Ancestry of “bowling”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | bowl | A roughly hemispherical container used to hold,... |
| 2 | Middle English | bolle | pod; shell |
| 3 | Old English | bolla | bowl |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | bullô | round object; ball; bowl |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | ballô | ball |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰel- | to sound; to speak, roar, bark; shiny, white; to... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰōl- | — |