Where does “glaive” come from?
glaive (English) comes from Middle English gleyve, from Old French glaive, from Latin glavus, from Latin gladius, from Gaulish kladyos, from Proto-Celtic kladiwos, from Proto-Indo-European ḱelh₂- — to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab.
glaive (English): A light lance with a long, sharp-pointed head; A...
Definitions
- A light lance with a long, sharp-pointed head; A...
Ancestry of “glaive”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | gleyve | A lance or spear; a polearm with a blade attached to the head |
| 2 | Old French | glaive | sword |
| 3 | Latin | glavus | a sort of weapon: lance |
| 4 | Latin | gladius | sword; murder, death; a gladiatorial contest |
| 5 | Gaulish | kladyos | sword |
| 6 | Proto-Celtic | kladiwos | sword |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱelh₂- | to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab |