Where does “gladiolus” come from?

gladiolus (Vulgar Latin) comes from Latin gladiolus, from Latin gladius, from Gaulish kladyos, from Proto-Celtic kladiwos, from Proto-Indo-European ḱelh₂- — to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab.

gladiolus (Vulgar Latin): Little sword, knife; Sword lily, gladiolus

Definitions

  1. Little sword, knife; Sword lily, gladiolus

Ancestry of “gladiolus”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1LatingladiolusLittle sword, knife; Sword lily, gladiolus
2Latingladiussword; murder, death; a gladiatorial contest
3Gaulishkladyossword
4Proto-Celtickladiwossword
5Proto-Indo-Europeanḱelh₂-to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱelh₂- →Every word from Proto-Celtic kladiwos →Every word from Gaulish kladyos →