isthmus

Where does the word "isthmus" come from? It comes from Greek isthmos, and was adopted directly into English (1550s).

Isthmus’s story begins in Greek: isthmos meant “a narrow neck of land.” A narrow neck of land, famously the isthmus of Corinth. It reached English by 1550s as isthmus. Greek, especially the Isthmus of Corinth, where the Isthmian Games were held. Today, isthmus means a narrow strip of land connecting two larger landmasses.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient isthmos "a narrow neck of land", a narrow neck of land, famously the isthmus of Corinth.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1550s isthmus "a narrow strip of land connecting two larger landmasses", Greek, especially the Isthmus of Corinth, where the Isthmian Games were held.