meander

Where does the word "meander" come from? It comes from Greek Maiandros, passing through Latin before entering English (1570s).

Meander’s story begins in Greek: Maiandros meant “the Maeander river.” A famously winding river in Caria, western Anatolia, now the Büyük Menderes in Turkey. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as maeander. Used for any winding course or pattern, such as the Greek key design. It reached English by 1570s as meander. The verb, to wander aimlessly, dates from the 1830s. Today, meander means to follow a winding course.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient Maiandros "the Maeander river", a famously winding river in Caria, western Anatolia, now the Büyük Menderes in Turkey.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient maeander "winding", used for any winding course or pattern, such as the Greek key design.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1570s meander "to wind, wander", the verb, to wander aimlessly, dates from the 1830s.