Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “giant” come from?

Giant comes from Middle English geant, from Old French gaiant, from Latin gigantem, from Ancient Greek γίγας meaning an enormous mythological creature.

giant (English): A mythical human of very great size;...

Definitions

  1. A mythical human of very great size;...

Ancestry of “giant”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishgeauntA giant; A immoral or despicable person
2Old Frenchgaianta giant
3Vulgar Latin*gagantem—
4Latingigantemaccusative singular of gigāns
5Ancient GreekΓίγαςone of the Gigantes; a Gigas
6Ancient GreekΓίγᾱς—

Words derived from “giant”

  • giantess
  • supergiant
  • giantism
  • subgiant
  • giantlike
  • gianthood
  • giantly
  • giantin
  • giantkiller
  • giantry
  • giantship
  • giantness
  • hypergiant
  • giantkind
  • giant forest genet
  • giantling
  • giantlore
  • giant squid
  • giant radio galaxy
  • giantdom
  • giantize
  • jaean
Every word from Ancient Greek Γίγᾱς →