Where does “semaphore” come from?
Semaphore comes from French sémaphore, which derives from Ancient Greek σῆμα meaning "sign" or "signal."
semaphore (English): Any equipment used for visual signalling by means...
Definitions
- Any equipment used for visual signalling by means...
Ancestry of “semaphore”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | French | sémaphore | semaphore |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | -φόρος | -bearing, -carrying; carrying, bearing; bringing |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | φέρω | I bring, bear, carry |
| 4 | Proto-Hellenic | pʰérō | to bear |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰéreti | to be carrying |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰēr- | shiny, light brown |
Words derived from “semaphore”