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Balloon

4 stages from Italian to English.

Today it means a bag inflated with air or gas

Where does the word "balloon" come from? It comes from Italian palla, passing through Italian and French before entering English (1570s).

palla→pallone→ballon→balloon

Italian · medieval

Italian · 1500s

'large ball', used in a ball game

French · 1500s

English · 1570s

the Montgolfier brothers' hot-air balloon of 1783 gave it its flying sense

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Balloon’s story begins in Italian: palla meant “ball.” A ball. Within Italian, it grew into pallone by 1500s. 'large ball', used in a ball game. From there it passed into French as ballon by 1500s. A large ball. It reached English by 1570s as balloon. The Montgolfier brothers' hot-air balloon of 1783 gave it its flying sense. Today, balloon means a bag inflated with air or gas.