Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “gastronomy” come from?

Gastronomy comes from French gastronomie, from Ancient Greek γαστρονομία, combining γαστήρ (stomach) and νόμος (law, from νέμω, to distribute or manage), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European nem-.

gastronomy (English): The art of preparing and eating good food; The...

Definitions

  1. The art of preparing and eating good food; The...

Ancestry of “gastronomy”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchgastronomiegastronomy
2Ancient Greekγαστρονομία—
3Ancient Greekνόμοςusage, custom; law, ordinance; melody, strain
4Ancient Greekνέμωto deal out, distribute, dispense; to pasture or...
5Proto-Indo-Europeannémossacrifice, worship; place of sacrifice, clearing
6Proto-Indo-Europeannem-to distribute; to give, to take
Every word from Proto-Indo-European nem- →