Etymology

marathon

mar·a·thon
M3A1R1A1T1H4O1N1

Today it means: A 42.195-kilometre (26-mile-385-yard) road race. Full definition →

French marathon ← Ancient Greek Μαραθών (Marathṓn)
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marathon · noun, verb1

  1. Ancient Greekμάραθον (márathon)
  2. Ancient GreekΜαραθών (Marathṓn)
  3. Frenchmarathon
  4. English todaymarathon

From French marathon, coined in 1894 by linguist Michel Bréal for the first modern time Olympic Games after Ancient Greek Μαραθών (Marathṓn), a town northeast of Athens. Phidippides the Greek ran the distance from Marathon to Athens to deliver a message regarding the Battle of Marathon. The modern sport of marathon running is based on a run approximately the same distance. The toponym itself comes from μάραθον (márathon, “fennel”) and refers to the prevalence of the plant in the area.

Marathon · proper noun, noun2

  1. Ancient Greek · borrowed fromΜαραθών
  2. English todayMarathon

From Ancient Greek Μαραθών (Marathṓn). Doublet of marathon.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.