Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “glamour” come from?

Glamour comes from Scots glamer, a variant of Scots gramarye, meaning magic or occult knowledge.

glamour (English): Originally, enchantment; magic charm; especially,...

Definitions

  1. Originally, enchantment; magic charm; especially,...

Ancestry of “glamour”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Scotsglamernoise; the visual influence of a charm, causing...
2Middle Englishgramergrammar; Latin
3Old Frenchgramairegrammar; grimoire; magician; conjuror
4Vulgar Latin*grammāria—
5Latingrammaticagrammar, philology; ablative singular of...
6Latingrammaticusof or pertaining to the study of language, of...
7Ancient Greekγραμματικόςknowing one’s letters, of a good scholar;...
8Ancient Greekγράμμαthat which is written, that which is drawn,...
9Ancient Greekγράφωto scratch, cut into; to draw, sketch, paint; to...
10Proto-Hellenicgrəpʰōto scratch, cut or carve into; to draw ,...
11Proto-Indo-Europeangerbʰ-to carve
12Proto-Indo-Europeanger-to turn, bend, twist, wind; to tie, bind...

Words derived from “glamour”

  • glam
  • glamourless
  • glammy
  • glamourize
  • glamourpuss
  • glamourise
  • glamourisation
  • englamour
  • glamourization
  • beglamour
  • glamorless
  • glamoursome
  • glamcore
  • glamourwear
  • glam band
  • glamourama
  • glamfest
  • glamoroso
  • glamour
  • glamour
  • glamour
  • glamour
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ger- →