Where does “steamroll” come from?
steamroll (English) comes from English roll, from Middle English rolle, from Old French rolle, from Medieval Latin rotulus, from Latin rotula, from Arabic رَطْل, from Classical Syriac ܪܝܛܠܐ, from Classical Syriac ܠܝܛܪܐ — ingot.
steamroll (English): To flatten, as if with a steamroller; To...
Definitions
- To flatten, as if with a steamroller; To...
Ancestry of “steamroll”, step by step
steamroll traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English roll
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | roll | To cause to revolve by turning over and over; to... |
| 2 | Middle English | rolle | — |
| 3 | Old French | rolle | registration |
| 4 | Medieval Latin | rotulus | a roll, list, catalogue, schedule, record, a... |
| 5 | Latin | rotula | a small wheel; roll |
| 6 | Arabic | رَطْل | — |
| 7 | Classical Syriac | ܪܝܛܠܐ | — |
| 8 | Classical Syriac | ܠܝܛܪܐ | libra, pound |
| 9 | French | litre | litre |
| 10 | Medieval Latin | litra | — |
| 11 | Ancient Greek | λίτρα | litra, a Sicilian silver coin; libra, a unit of... |
| 12 | Proto-Italic | *līðrā | ingot |