Where does “besteiro” come from?

besteiro (Portuguese) comes from Old Portuguese baesteiro, from Vulgar Latin balistarius, from Latin ballistarius, from Latin ballista, from Ancient Greek βαλλίστρα, from Ancient Greek βάλλω, from Proto-Hellenic *gʷəlnō.

besteiro (Portuguese): crossbowman

Definitions

  1. crossbowman

Ancestry of “besteiro”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Portuguesebaesteirocrossbowman
2Vulgar LatinbalistariusAlternative form of ballistārius
3LatinballistariusOne who makes ballistae; One who operates a...
4Latinballistaballista
5Ancient Greekβαλλίστραcatapult, engine of war
6Ancient GreekβάλλωI throw, cast, hurl; I let fall; I strike, touch
7Proto-Hellenic*gʷəlnō
Every word from Proto-Hellenic *gʷəlnōEvery word from Ancient Greek βάλλωEvery word from Ancient Greek βαλλίστρα