Etymology

palaestra

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Today it means: A public area in ancient Greece and Rome dedicated to the teaching and practice of wrestling and other sports; a wrestling school, a gymnasium. Full definition →

First used 15th c.Latin palaestra ← Ancient Greek παλαίστρα
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The story

  1. Ancient Greek · derived fromπαλαίστρα“wrestling school”
  2. Latin · borrowed frompalaestra
  3. English todaypalaestra

Borrowed from Latin palaestra, from Ancient Greek παλαίστρα (palaístra, “wrestling school”).

First known use, by meaning

  • from 15th c. A public area in ancient Greece and Rome dedicated to the teaching and practice of wrestling and other sports; a wrestling school, a gymnasium.
  • from 15th c. An arena for literal or figurative combat; a battlefield.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.