English
trophy
Trophy comes from Middle French trophée ‘memorial’, from Latin trophaeum ‘a sign of victory, a monument’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *trep- ‘to turn’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*trep-‘to turn’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEτρέπω‘turn’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEτροπήtropḗ‘rout’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEτροπαῖοςtropaîos‘of defeat’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEτρόπαιονtrópaion‘monument of an enemy's defeat’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEtrophaeum‘a sign of victory’
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600trophée‘memorial’
- Englishearliest quotation 1697trophy
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*trep-‘to turn’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEτρέπω‘turn’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEτροπήtropḗ‘rout’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEτροπαῖοςtropaîos‘of defeat’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEτρόπαιονtrópaion‘monument of an enemy's defeat’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEtrophaeum‘a sign of victory’
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600trophée‘memorial’
- Englishearliest quotation 1697trophy
Earliest quotation: 1697, Virgil, The Seventh Book of the Æneis: “Around the posts hung helmets, darts, and spears, /…”
Linked words
pairs
- trophy and tropic both from Ancient Greek τροπή ‘rout’
through Proto-Indo-European *trep- ‘to turn’
thrive, intrepid, trepidation, turpitude, 31 more
through Ancient Greek τρέπω ‘turn, divert, turn back, rout an enemy’
trope, troubadour, contrive, 24 more
through Ancient Greek τροπή ‘rout, turning of an enemy’
Today it means
noun An object, usually in the form of a statuette, cup, or shield, awarded for success in a competition or to mark a special achievement.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *trep- / trophy