Where does “central city” come from?

central city (English) comes from English central, from Spanish central, from Latin centrālis, from Latin centrum, from Ancient Greek κέντρον, from Proto-Hellenic *kéntron, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱéntrom — pointed tool.

central city (English): The main city of a metropolitan area; particularly one containing multiple cities

Definitions

  1. The main city of a metropolitan area; particularly one containing multiple cities

Ancestry of “central city”, step by step

central city traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English central

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcentralBeing in the centre; Having or containing the...
2Spanishcentralcentral; headquarter; center
3Latincentrāliscentral, in the middle
4Latincentrumcenter
5Ancient GreekκέντρονSomething with a sharp point: point, spike, spur;...
6Proto-Hellenic*kéntron
7Proto-Indo-European*ḱéntrompointed tool

via English city

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcityA large settlement, bigger than a town; sometimes...
2Middle Englishcitecity
3Old FrenchcitetAlternative form of cité
4Latincīvitās
5Proto-Italickeiwissociety; citizen
6Proto-Indo-Europeanḱey-to be lying down; to settle
Every word from Proto-Indo-European *ḱéntromEvery word from Proto-Hellenic *kéntronEvery word from Ancient Greek κέντρον