gymnast

Where does the word "gymnast" come from? It comes from Greek gymnastēs, passing through French before entering English (1590s).

Gymnast’s story begins in Greek: gymnastēs meant “trainer of athletes.” Greek, from 'gymnazein', to train naked, from 'gymnos', naked. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in French as gymnaste. Greek 'gymnastes' was a trainer of professional athletes, from 'gymnos', naked, since athletes trained unclothed. It reached English by 1590s as gymnast. Modern gymnastics developed in Germany in the 1800s. Today, gymnast means a person trained in gymnastics.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient gymnastēs "trainer of athletes", Greek, from 'gymnazein', to train naked, from 'gymnos', naked.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1500s gymnaste "gymnast", Greek 'gymnastes' was a trainer of professional athletes, from 'gymnos', naked, since athletes trained unclothed.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1590s gymnast "athletic trainer", modern gymnastics developed in Germany in the 1800s.