atlas

Where does the word "atlas" come from? It comes from Greek Atlas, passing through Latin/French before entering English (1600s).

Atlas’s story begins in Greek: Atlas meant “a mythical sky-bearing Titan.” A Titan condemned to hold up the sky, associated with the Atlas Mountains. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in Latin/French as atlas. Mercator placed an image of the Titan on the cover of his map collection. It reached English by 1600s as atlas. Adopted for any bound book of maps. Today, atlas means a book of maps, or a supporting structural element.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient Atlas "a mythical sky-bearing Titan", a Titan condemned to hold up the sky, associated with the Atlas Mountains.
2. Stage 2 · Latin/French · 1500s atlas "a bound collection of maps", Mercator placed an image of the Titan on the cover of his map collection.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1600s atlas "a book of maps", adopted for any bound book of maps.