Etymograph

English

talisman

Talisman comes from French talisman, from Arabic طِلَّسْم ‘payment’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kʷél-os ~ *kʷél-es-.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*kʷél-os ~ *kʷél-es-reconstructed
  2. Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*kʷélosreconstructed
  3. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEτέλοςtélos‘end, fulfillment, accomplishment, consummation, completion’
  4. Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEτελέωteléō‘to perform religious rites, to complete’
  5. Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEτέλεσμαtélesma‘payment’
  6. Arabicc. 500–presentطِلَّسْمṭillasm‘payment’
  7. Frenchc. 1600–presenttalisman
  8. Englishearliest quotation 1832same form

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*kʷél-os ~ *kʷél-es-reconstructed
  2. Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*kʷélosreconstructed
  3. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEτέλοςtélos‘end, fulfillment, accomplishment, consummation, completion’
  4. Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEτελέωteléō‘to perform religious rites, to complete’
  5. Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEτέλεσμαtélesma‘payment’
  6. Arabicc. 500–presentطِلَّسْمṭillasm‘payment’
  7. Frenchc. 1600–presenttalisman
  8. Englishearliest quotation 1832same form

Earliest quotation: 1832, D. M. Ferguson, Legend: “The second in his saddle reeled, / Down thundered…”

Linked words

through Ancient Greek τέλος ‘end, fulfillment, accomplishment,…’

telos, 10 more

Today it means

noun A magical object providing protection against ill will, or the supernatural, or conferring the wearer with a boon such as good luck, good health, or certain powers.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *kʷél-os ~ *kʷél-es- / talisman

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