Etymology Map
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Belt

2 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a strip of leather or fabric worn around the waist

Where does the word "belt" come from? It comes from Latin balteus, adopted directly into English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
balteus
Latin · classical
"sword belt"
a sword belt or baldric worn over the shoulder by Roman soldiers, possibly an Etruscan word
2
Stage 2 of 2
belt
English · 1300s
"strap around the waist"
borrowed into Old English via West Germanic; 'below the belt' comes from boxing, where the Marquess of Queensberry rules of 1867 banned low blows
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Read the full story

Belt’s story begins in Latin: balteus meant “sword belt.” A sword belt or baldric worn over the shoulder by Roman soldiers, possibly an Etruscan word. It reached English by 1300s as belt. Borrowed into Old English via West Germanic; 'below the belt' comes from boxing, where the Marquess of Queensberry rules of 1867 banned low blows. Today, belt means a strip of leather or fabric worn around the waist.