Where does “handball” come from?

handball (Norwegian Nynorsk) comes from Norwegian Nynorsk ball, from French bal, from Late Latin ballare, from Ancient Greek βαλλίζω, from Proto-Indo-European gʷelH- — to throw, reach, pierce; to hit by throwing.

handball (Norwegian Nynorsk): handball, a team sport; a handball, the ball used...

Definitions

  1. handball, a team sport; a handball, the ball used...

Ancestry of “handball”, step by step

handball traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Norwegian Nynorsk ball

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Norwegian Nynorskballa ball; ball
2Frenchbaldance party, ball
3Late Latinballareto play, dance; to dance; present active...
4Ancient Greekβαλλίζωto dance, jump about
5Proto-Indo-EuropeangʷelH-to throw, reach, pierce; to hit by throwing

via Norwegian Nynorsk hand

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Norwegian NynorskhandA hand
2Old Norsehǫndhand
3Proto-Germanichanduzhand
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷelH- →Every word from Ancient Greek βαλλίζω →Every word from Late Latin ballare →