Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “cullion” come from?

cullion (English) comes from Middle English coilon, from Old French coillon, from Latin cōleōnem, from Latin cōleus, from Ancient Greek κολεός, from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- — to cover; to incline.

cullion (English): Testicle; A vile person

Definitions

  1. Testicle; A vile person

Ancestry of “cullion”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishcoilonA testicle
2Old Frenchcoillontesticle
3Latincōleōnem—
4Latincōleus—
5Ancient Greekκολεόςa sword-sheath, a scabbard; a cinerary urn; a...
6Proto-Indo-Europeanḱel-to cover; to incline

Words derived from “cullion”

  • cully
  • cullibility
  • cullionly
  • cullyism
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- →