giant

The story

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromγίγας“giant”
2. Latin · derived fromgigās
3. Vulgar Latin · derived from*gagās
4. Old French · derived fromgeant
5. Middle English · inherited fromgeaunt
6. English todaygiant

From Middle English geaunt, geant, from Old French geant, gaiant (Modern French géant) from Vulgar Latin *gagās, gagant-, from Latin gigās, gigant-, from Ancient Greek γίγας (gígas, “giant”). Cognate to giga- (“1,000,000,000”). Largely Displaced native Old English ent (“giant”), Old English eoten (“giant or jötunn”), and Old English þyrs (“giant or ogre”). Compare English ent (“giant tree-man”), ettin (“giant or troll”) and thurse (“giant”).

Words from the same roots