Etymology Explorer › Latin

Where does “obeliscus” come from?

obeliscus (Latin) comes from Ancient Greek ὀβελίσκος, from Ancient Greek ὀβελός, from Ancient Greek βέλος, from Proto-Indo-European gʷélHos, from Proto-Indo-European gʷelH- — to throw, reach, pierce; to hit by throwing.

obeliscus (Latin): obelisk

Definitions

  1. obelisk

Ancestry of “obeliscus”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient Greekὀβελίσκοςsmall spit, skewer; anything shaped like a spit;...
2Ancient Greekὀβελόςa spit, rod; a horizontal line
3Ancient Greekβέλοςmissile, arrow, dart; weapon; something quickly...
4Proto-Indo-EuropeangʷélHos—
5Proto-Indo-EuropeangʷelH-to throw, reach, pierce; to hit by throwing

Words derived from “obeliscus”

  • obelisk
  • obelisklike
  • obeliskoid
  • obelisco
  • obelisco
  • obélisque
  • obelisk
  • obelisque
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷelH- →