Where does “minotaur” come from?
minotaur (English) comes from French minotaure, from Ancient Greek Μινώταυρος, from Ancient Greek Ταῦρος, from Proto-Hellenic táuros, from Proto-Indo-European táwros — wild bull, aurochs.
minotaur (English): A monster with the head of a bull and the body of...
Definitions
- A monster with the head of a bull and the body of...
Ancestry of “minotaur”, step by step
minotaur traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via French minotaure
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | minotaure | minotaur |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | Μινώταυρος | Minotaur |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | Ταῦρος | one of the Tauri |
| 4 | Proto-Hellenic | táuros | bull |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | táwros | wild bull, aurochs |
via Latin Mīnōtaurus
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | Mīnōtaurus | the Minotaur |
via Middle English Minotaure
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | Minotaure | — |