Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “longsword” come from?

longsword (English) comes from English long, from English longitude, from Old French longitude, from Latin longitūdō, from Latin longus, from Latin -ē, from Latin dis-, from Latin calceus — small stone, pebble; gravel, rubble.

longsword (English): Any type of sword that is comparatively long;...

Definitions

  1. Any type of sword that is comparatively long;...

Ancestry of “longsword”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishlongHaving much distance from one terminating point...
2EnglishlongitudeAngular distance measured west or east of the...
3Old Frenchlongitude—
4Latinlongitūdō—
5Latinlongusfar, long; extended, prolonged; long; tedious,...
6Latin-ē—
7Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
8Latincalceusshoe
9Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
10Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →