Where does “Champion” come from?
Champion (German) comes from English champion, from Middle English champioun, from Old French champiun, from Medieval Latin campio, from Frankish kampijō, from Proto-Germanic kampijô, from Latin campus, from Proto-Indo-European kh₂emp- — to bend, to curve.
Champion (German): champion
Ancestry of “Champion”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | champion | An ongoing winner in a game or contest; Someone... |
| 2 | Middle English | champioun | A sportsperson who utilises brute strength; a... |
| 3 | Old French | champiun | — |
| 4 | Medieval Latin | campio | combatant in a duel, champion; champion |
| 5 | Frankish | kampijō | fighter; combat soldier |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | kampijô | — |
| 7 | Latin | campus | Open flat level ground: a plain, a natural field;... |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | kh₂emp- | to bend; crooked; to bend, curve |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | kh₂em- | to bend, to curve |