Where does “gladius” come from?
gladius (Latin) comes from Gaulish kladyos, from Proto-Celtic kladiwos, from Proto-Indo-European ḱelh₂- — to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab.
gladius (Latin): sword; murder, death; a gladiatorial contest
Definitions
- sword; murder, death; a gladiatorial contest
Ancestry of “gladius”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Gaulish | kladyos | sword |
| 2 | Proto-Celtic | kladiwos | sword |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱelh₂- | to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab |
Words derived from “gladius”