Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “iamb” come from?

iamb (English) comes from French ïambe, from Latin iambus, from Ancient Greek ἴαμβος, from Ancient Greek ἰάπτω — to send forth, drive on, shoot; to rush, hurry.

iamb (English): A metrical foot in verse consisting of an...

Definitions

  1. A metrical foot in verse consisting of an...

Ancestry of “iamb”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchïambeiamb
2Latiniambusiamb, iambus; iambic verse
3Ancient Greekἴαμβοςiamb, a metrical foot; iambic verse or poem;...
4Ancient Greekἰάπτωto send forth, drive on, shoot; to rush, hurry

Words derived from “iamb”

  • iambist
  • diiamb
  • iambize
Every word from Ancient Greek ἰάπτω →