Etymology Map
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Colon

2 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means a punctuation mark (:)

Where does the word "colon" come from? It comes from Greek kōlon, adopted directly into English (1550s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
kōlon
Greek · ancient
"limb, clause"
Greek, a member or clause of a sentence
2
Stage 2 of 2
colon
English · 1550s
"clause; punctuation mark"
the intestine 'colon' is a different Greek word, 'kolon'
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Colon’s story begins in Greek: kōlon meant “limb, clause.” Greek, a member or clause of a sentence. It reached English by 1550s as colon. The intestine 'colon' is a different Greek word, 'kolon'. Today, colon means a punctuation mark (:).