Etymology Explorer › Latin

Where does “libra” come from?

libra (Latin) comes from Ancient Greek ζυγόν, from Proto-Hellenic dzugón, from Proto-Indo-European yugóm, from Proto-Indo-European yewg- — to join, to yoke, to tie together.

Ancestry of “libra”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient Greekζυγόνyoke, for joining animals; yoke, burden; in...
2Proto-Hellenicdzugónyoke
3Proto-Indo-Europeanyugómyoke
4Proto-Indo-Europeanyewg-to join, to yoke, to tie together
Every word from Proto-Indo-European yewg- →