Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “firearms” come from?

Firearms derives from English fire and Middle English arm, from Old English earm, Proto-Germanic armaz, Latin arma meaning tools or weapons, and Proto-Indo-European h₂er-.

firearms (English): plural of firearm

Definitions

  1. plural of firearm

Ancestry of “firearms”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishfirearmA personal weapon that uses explosive powder to...
2EnglishfireA chemical reaction involving the bonding of...
3Middle EnglishfierAlternative form of figer
4Old Englishfȳrfire
5Old EnglishfeorAlternative form of feorr; far
6Proto-Germanicferraifar, distant
7Proto-Indo-Europeanper-nóy—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
9Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

Words derived from “firearms”

  • antifirearms
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →