English
gymnast
Gymnast comes from Ancient Greek γυμναστής ‘trainer of athletes’, from γυμνός ‘naked’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *negʷ-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*negʷ-‘to be naked’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*nogʷós‘naked’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*nogʷnósreconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*gumnós‘naked, nude’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEγυμνόςgumnós‘naked’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEγυμνάζωgumnázō‘I train naked, exercise’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEγυμναστήςgumnastḗs‘trainer of athletes’
- Englishtodaygymnast
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*negʷ-‘to be naked’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*nogʷós‘naked’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*nogʷnósreconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*gumnós‘naked, nude’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEγυμνόςgumnós‘naked’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEγυμνάζωgumnázō‘I train naked, exercise’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEγυμναστήςgumnastḗs‘trainer of athletes’
- Englishtodaygymnast
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *negʷ- ‘to be naked’
night, naked, negro, noir, nigger, actin, nocturnal, nox, denigrate, nocturne, nigella, 53 more
through Proto-Indo-European *nogʷós ‘naked’
Today it means
noun One who performs (the sport of) gymnastics.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *negʷ- / gymnast