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Where does the word "magnum" come from? It comes from Latin magnum, and was adopted directly into English (1780s).
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Where does the word "magnum" come from? It comes from Latin magnum, and was adopted directly into English (1780s).
Magnum’s story begins in Latin: magnum meant “great.” Neuter of 'magnus', great, as in 'magnitude' and 'magnificent'. It reached English by 1780s as magnum. First a two-quart bottle of wine or spirits; the .357 Magnum revolver cartridge of 1935 borrowed the name. Today, magnum means a wine bottle holding twice the standard amount.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient magnum "great", neuter of 'magnus', great, as in 'magnitude' and 'magnificent'.
- Stage 2 · English · 1780s magnum "large wine bottle", first a two-quart bottle of wine or spirits; the .357 Magnum revolver cartridge of 1935 borrowed the name.