English
gabion
Gabion comes from Italian gabbione, from gabbia ‘cage’, and ultimately from Proto-Italic *kawos.
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*kawosreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcavus
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CE*caveusreconstructed
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcavea‘cage, den, enclosure, stall, coop, beehive, birdcage’
- Italianc. 1300–presentgabbia‘cage’
- Italian, derivedc. 1300–presentgabbioneaugmentative of gabbia
- Englishearliest quotation 1563gabion
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*kawosreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcavus
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CE*caveusreconstructed
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcavea‘cage, den, enclosure, stall, coop, beehive, birdcage’
- Italianc. 1300–presentgabbia‘cage’
- Italian, derivedc. 1300–presentgabbioneaugmentative of gabbia
- Englishearliest quotation 1563gabion
Earliest quotation: 1563, Ambroise Paré: “When our artillery came before the walls of the…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *ḱewh₁- ‘to swell’
church, kirk, hound, cyst, cumulus, cajole, 36 more
through Proto-Indo-European *ḱowh₁ós
through Proto-Italic *kawos
through Latin cavus
cave, cavity, excavation, excavate, cavil, 14 more
through Latin *caveus
through Latin cavea ‘cage, den, enclosure, stall, coop, beehive,…’
Today it means
noun A cylindrical basket or cage of wicker which was filled with earth or stones and used in fortifications and other engineering work (a precursor to the sandbag).
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Italic *kawos / gabion