Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “phial” come from?

Phial comes from Middle English fiole, from Old French fiole, from Latin phiala, from Ancient Greek φιάλη, originally denoting a broad shallow cup or bowl.

phial (English): A glass vessel or bottle, especially a small...

Definitions

  1. A glass vessel or bottle, especially a small...

Ancestry of “phial”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishfioleA receptacle, vial, or bottle or diminutive size;...
2Old Frenchfiolevial, phial
3Late Latinfiolavial, phial
4Latinphialasaucer; a censer, thurible
5Ancient Greekφιάληround and shallow bowl, saucer, or pan
Every word from Ancient Greek φιάλη →