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Caliber

3 stages from Arabic to English.

Today it means the diameter of a gun barrel; quality

Where does the word "caliber" come from? It comes from Arabic qalib, passing through French before entering English (1560s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
qalib
Arabic · medieval
"mould"
Arabic, from Greek 'kalopous', shoemaker's last
2
Stage 2 of 3
calibre
French · 1500s
"bore of a gun"
came via Italian 'calibro'
3
Stage 3 of 3
caliber
English · 1560s
"gun bore"
the sense 'quality of mind' dates from the 1500s too
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Read the full story

Caliber’s story begins in Arabic: qalib meant “mould.” Arabic, from Greek 'kalopous', shoemaker's last. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in French as calibre. Came via Italian 'calibro'. It reached English by 1560s as caliber. The sense 'quality of mind' dates from the 1500s too. Today, caliber means the diameter of a gun barrel; quality.