Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “strongman” come from?

Strongman derives from English strong and English man, which traces through Middle English man to Latin extraneus and Latin extra, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European men- and ḱóm.

strongman (English): Someone who performs feats of strength, sometimes...

Definitions

  1. Someone who performs feats of strength, sometimes...

Ancestry of “strongman”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishstrongCapable of producing great physical force;...
2Middle Englishstrongstrong; Alternative form of straunge
3Old Englishstrangstrong
4Proto-West Germanicstrangsevere, strict, rigorous; strong
5Proto-Germanicstrangaztight, strict, straight; strong
6Proto-Indo-Europeanstrengʰ-to twist; rope, cord
7Proto-Indo-Europeanster-sterile, infertile
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ster- →