Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “metal detectorist” come from?

metal detectorist (English) comes from English metal detector, from English metal, from French métal, from German metall, from Italian metallo, from Spanish metal, from Old Spanish metal, from Old French métal — to mine, quarry.

metal detectorist (English): A person who uses a metal detector

Definitions

  1. A person who uses a metal detector

Ancestry of “metal detectorist”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishmetal detectorA hand-held device that uses electromagnetic...
2Englishmetal"Chemical elements or alloys, and the mines where...
3Frenchmétalmetal
4Germanmetall—
5Italianmetallometal
6Spanishmetalmetal
7Old Spanishmetalmetal
8Old Frenchmétal—
9Latinmetallummetal; precious metals, especially gold or...
10Ancient GreekμέταλλονA mine, quarry, or salt pit; metal
11Ancient Greekμέταλλευεινto mine, quarry
Every word from Ancient Greek μέταλλευειν →