English
bracelet
Bracelet comes from Old French bracelet ‘bracelet (jewelry)’, from bras ‘arm’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *mreǵʰ- ‘short’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*mreǵʰ-‘short’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*mréǵʰus‘short, brief’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*brəkʰúsreconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEβρᾰχῠ́ς‘short’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEβραχίων
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEbrachium
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400bras‘arm’
- Old French, derivedc. 842–1400bracelet‘bracelet (jewelry)’diminutive form of bras
- Englishearliest quotation 1903same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*mreǵʰ-‘short’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*mréǵʰus‘short, brief’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*brəkʰúsreconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEβρᾰχῠ́ς‘short’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEβραχίων
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEbrachium
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400bras‘arm’
- Old French, derivedc. 842–1400bracelet‘bracelet (jewelry)’diminutive form of bras
- Englishearliest quotation 1903same form
Earliest quotation: 1903, Campbell Cowan Edgar, Greek Sculpture: “[…] and fastened on his breast by a buckle…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *mreǵʰ- ‘short’
through Proto-Indo-European *mréǵʰus ‘short, brief’
brief, merry, brevity, abbreviate, 32 more
through Ancient Greek βρᾰχῠ́ς ‘short’
through Ancient Greek βραχίων
through Latin brachium
through Old French bras ‘arm’
Today it means
noun A band or chain worn around the wrist as jewelry/jewellery or an ornament.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *mreǵʰ- / bracelet