Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “gladiolus” come from?

gladiolus (English) comes from Latin gladiōlus, from Latin gladius, from Gaulish kladyos, from Proto-Celtic kladiwos, from Proto-Indo-European ḱelh₂- — to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab.

gladiolus (English): The center part of the sternum; Any of several...

Definitions

  1. The center part of the sternum; Any of several...

Ancestry of “gladiolus”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latingladiōlus—
2Latingladiussword; murder, death; a gladiatorial contest
3Gaulishkladyossword
4Proto-Celtickladiwossword
5Proto-Indo-Europeanḱelh₂-to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱelh₂- →