Where does “kontrabass” come from?
kontrabass (Norwegian Nynorsk) comes from Norwegian Nynorsk bass, from Italian basso, from Latin Bassus, from Ancient Greek βάσις, from Proto-Hellenic gʷə́tis, from Proto-Indo-European gʷémtis, from Proto-Indo-European gʷem- — to step.
kontrabass (Norwegian Nynorsk): a double bass
Ancestry of “kontrabass”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Norwegian Nynorsk | bass | bass;; short for bassgitar or kontrabass |
| 2 | Italian | basso | low; short; narrow, thin |
| 3 | Latin | Bassus | — |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | βάσις | step; rhythm; foot |
| 5 | Proto-Hellenic | gʷə́tis | step |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷémtis | step, act of walking |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷem- | to step |