Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “lionel” come from?

lionel (English) comes from Old French lion, from Latin leō, from Ancient Greek Λέων, from Ancient Greek λέων — lion; Leo, the zodiacal sign; lionheart, savage.

lionel (English): The whelp of a lioness; a young lion

Definitions

  1. The whelp of a lioness; a young lion

Ancestry of “lionel”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchlionlion
2Latinleō—
3Ancient GreekΛέων—
4Ancient Greekλέωνlion; Leo, the zodiacal sign; lionheart, savage
Every word from Ancient Greek λέων →