Etymology Map
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Halcyon

3 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means denoting a calm, happy period in the past

Where does the word "halcyon" come from? It comes from Greek alkyōn, passing through Latin before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
alkyōn
Greek · ancient
"kingfisher"
the kingfisher; legend held that it nested at sea in midwinter and the gods calmed the waves, the 'halcyon days'
2
Stage 2 of 3
halcyon
Latin · ancient
"kingfisher"
the 'h' came from a false link with Greek 'hals', sea
3
Stage 3 of 3
halcyon
English · 1300s
"calm, idyllic"
'halcyon days', a time of calm, dates from the 1540s
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Read the full story

Halcyon’s story begins in Greek: alkyōn meant “kingfisher.” The kingfisher; legend held that it nested at sea in midwinter and the gods calmed the waves, the 'halcyon days'. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as halcyon. The 'h' came from a false link with Greek 'hals', sea. It reached English by 1300s as halcyon. 'halcyon days', a time of calm, dates from the 1540s. Today, halcyon means denoting a calm, happy period in the past.