Where does “marbles” come from?

Marbles derives from Middle English marbre, from Old French marbre, from Latin marmor, from Ancient Greek μάρμαρος, related to the verb μαρμαίρω meaning to shine or sparkle.

marbles (English): Any of several children's games played with small...

Definitions

  1. Any of several children's games played with small...

Ancestry of “marbles”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmarbleA rock of crystalline limestone; A small ball,...
2Middle Englishmarble
3Old Frenchmarbremarble
4Latinmarmora block or piece of marble; pulverized marble,...
5Ancient Greekμάρμαροςcrystalline rock; marble
6Indo-European*mer-
Every word from Indo-European *mer-
marbles — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer