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Dragon

4 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means a mythical monster like a huge reptile, often breathing fire

Where does the word "dragon" come from? It comes from Greek drákōn, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (1200s).

drákōn→draco→dragon→dragon

Greek · ancient

'serpent', probably 'the one with the deadly glance', from derkesthai 'to see'; the Athenian lawgiver Draco (621 BC) gave us 'draconian'

Latin · classical

"serpent; standard"

Roman cavalry adopted the draco, a hollow serpent-headed windsock standard, from Sarmatian and Dacian horsemen in the 100s AD

Old French · 1100s

the dragon-slaying St George became hugely popular in the West after the Crusades

English · 1200s

"mythical winged reptile"

the red dragon of Wales, Y Ddraig Goch, was officially recognised as the Welsh flag in 1959

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Read the full story

Dragon’s story begins in Greek: drákōn meant “serpent.” 'serpent', probably 'the one with the deadly glance', from derkesthai 'to see'; the Athenian lawgiver Draco (621 BC) gave us 'draconian'. By classical, the word had taken hold in Latin as draco. Roman cavalry adopted the draco, a hollow serpent-headed windsock standard, from Sarmatian and Dacian horsemen in the 100s AD. From there it passed into Old French as dragon by 1100s. The dragon-slaying St George became hugely popular in the West after the Crusades. It reached English by 1200s as dragon. The red dragon of Wales, Y Ddraig Goch, was officially recognised as the Welsh flag in 1959. Today, dragon means a mythical monster like a huge reptile, often breathing fire.