English
munition
Munition comes from Latin mūnitiō ‘a defence, fortification’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *mey- ‘to strengthen’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*mey-‘to strengthen’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*móynireconstructed
- Old Latinc. 700–75 BCEmoene
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEmoenia‘city walls, defensive walls, or walls in general’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEmūnīre‘fortify, defend (with a wall)’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEmūnitiō‘a defence, fortification’by way of French munition
- Englishearliest quotation 1610munition
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*mey-‘to strengthen’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*móynireconstructed
- Old Latinc. 700–75 BCEmoene
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEmoenia‘city walls, defensive walls, or walls in general’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEmūnīre‘fortify, defend (with a wall)’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEmūnitiō‘a defence, fortification’by way of French munition
- Englishearliest quotation 1610munition
Earliest quotation: 1610, The Second Tome of the Holie Bible, Doway: Laurence Kellam: “I wil stand vpon my watch, and fixe my…”
Formed from munite + -ion
Proto-Indo-European *mey- ‘to strengthen’
Proto-Indo-European *móyni
Old Latin moene
Latin moenia ‘walls’
Latin mūnīre ‘to wall round, fortify’
English munite
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *mey- ‘to strengthen’
mean, met, common, minute, minister, community, minor, commission, mess, meal, ministry, min, menu, compromise, missile, commit, mere, mutual, minus, communication, dismiss, communist, premise, communicate, immune, mole, mayhem, noodle, moor, communal, communism, mural, intermittent, immunity, municipality, commune, mite, omit, communion, minstrel, 78 more
through Proto-Indo-European *móyni
Today it means
noun Materials of war: armaments, weapons and ammunition.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *mey- / munition