meridian

Where does the word "meridian" come from? It comes from Latin meridianus, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).

Meridian’s story begins in Latin: meridianus meant “relating to midday.” Literally of midday, from medius (middle) and dies (day). It reached English by 1300s as meridian. Settled as the word for a line of longitude, once tied to the sun's midday position. Today, meridian means an imaginary line of longitude running from pole to pole.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient meridianus "relating to midday", literally of midday, from medius (middle) and dies (day).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1300s meridian "a line of longitude", settled as the word for a line of longitude, once tied to the sun's midday position.