Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “gladius” come from?

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

gladius (English): A Roman sword roughly two feet long; A pen, a...

Definitions

  1. A Roman sword roughly two feet long; A pen, a...

Ancestry of “gladius”, step by step

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