Etymology Map
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Bombard

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means to attack continuously with shells or questions

Where does the word "bombard" come from? It comes from Latin bombus, passing through Old French before entering English (1590s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
bombus
Latin · ancient
"booming sound"
from Greek 'bombos', a deep hollow sound
2
Stage 2 of 3
bombarde
Old French · medieval
"cannon"
an early stone-throwing cannon
3
Stage 3 of 3
bombard
English · 1590s
"to fire cannon at"
'bombard with questions' dates from the 1800s
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Read the full story

Bombard’s story begins in Latin: bombus meant “booming sound.” From Greek 'bombos', a deep hollow sound. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as bombarde. An early stone-throwing cannon. It reached English by 1590s as bombard. 'bombard with questions' dates from the 1800s. Today, bombard means to attack continuously with shells or questions.