Etymology Explorer › Serbo-Croatian

Where does “балавац” come from?

балавац (Serbo-Croatian) comes from Serbo-Croatian ба̏ла, from Italian ballo, from Italian ballare, from Latin ballāre, from Ancient Greek βαλλίζω, from Proto-Indo-European gʷelH- — to throw, reach, pierce; to hit by throwing.

балавац (Serbo-Croatian): sniveler, slobberer; immature, young person

Definitions

  1. sniveler, slobberer; immature, young person

Ancestry of “балавац”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Serbo-Croatianба̏ла—
2Italianballodance, ball; first-person singular present...
3Italianballareto dance; to fidget; to totter, wobble, shake
4Latinballāre—
5Ancient Greekβαλλίζωto dance, jump about
6Proto-Indo-EuropeangʷelH-to throw, reach, pierce; to hit by throwing
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷelH- →