Where does “kontrabas” come from?
kontrabas (Polish) comes from German Kontrabass, from Italian contrabasso, 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.
kontrabas (Polish): double bass
Definitions
- double bass
Ancestry of “kontrabas”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | German | Kontrabass | double bass |
| 2 | Italian | contrabasso | — |
| 3 | Italian | basso | low; short; narrow, thin |
| 4 | Latin | Bassus | thick, fat, stumpy, short, low, base |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | βάσις | step; rhythm; foot |
| 6 | Proto-Hellenic | gʷə́tis | step |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷémtis | step, act of walking |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷem- | to step |