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Where does the word "cube" come from? It comes from Greek kybos, and was adopted directly into English (1550s).
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Where does the word "cube" come from? It comes from Greek kybos, and was adopted directly into English (1550s).
Cube’s story begins in Greek: kybos meant “a cube, a die.” A cube, a die used in games of chance. It reached English by 1550s as cube. Settled as the geometric word for a six-sided solid shape. Today, cube means a three-dimensional shape with six equal square faces.
- Stage 1 · Greek · ancient kybos "a cube, a die", a cube, a die used in games of chance.
- Stage 2 · English · 1550s cube "a six-sided solid shape with equal square faces", settled as the geometric word for a six-sided solid shape.