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Where does the word "pylon" come from? It comes from Greek pylōn, and was adopted directly into English (1820s).
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Where does the word "pylon" come from? It comes from Greek pylōn, and was adopted directly into English (1820s).
Pylon’s story begins in Greek: pylōn meant “gateway.” Greek, the monumental gateway of an Egyptian temple. It reached English by 1820s as pylon. Electricity pylons date from the 1920s. Today, pylon means a tall tower carrying power cables.
- Stage 1 · Greek · ancient pylōn "gateway", Greek, the monumental gateway of an Egyptian temple.
- Stage 2 · English · 1820s pylon "temple gateway", electricity pylons date from the 1920s.