Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “chasma” come from?

chasma (English) comes from Latin chasma, from Ancient Greek χάσμα, from Ancient Greek χάσκω, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰeh₂- — to yawn; to gape; yawn.

chasma (English): A long, narrow, steep-sided depression on a...

Definitions

  1. A long, narrow, steep-sided depression on a...

Ancestry of “chasma”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1LatinchasmaA chasm, abyss; A kind of meteor
2Ancient Greekχάσμαhollow, chasm, gulf; open mouth; space, expanse
3Ancient Greekχάσκωto yawn, gape, open wide; to speak with open...
4Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰeh₂-to yawn; to gape; yawn
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰeh₂- →