Where does “besteiro” come from?
besteiro (Galician) comes from Old Portuguese baesteiro, from Vulgar Latin balistarius, from Latin ballistarius, from Latin ballista, from Ancient Greek βαλλίστρα, from Ancient Greek βάλλω, from Proto-Hellenic *gʷəlnō.
besteiro (Galician): crossbowman
Ancestry of “besteiro”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old Portuguese | baesteiro | crossbowman |
| 2 | Vulgar Latin | balistarius | Alternative form of ballistārius |
| 3 | Latin | ballistarius | One who makes ballistae; One who operates a... |
| 4 | Latin | ballista | ballista |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | βαλλίστρα | — |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | βάλλω | I throw, cast, hurl; I let fall; I strike, touch |
| 7 | Proto-Hellenic | *gʷəlnō | — |