pyramid

Where does the word "pyramid" come from? It comes from Greek pyramis, passing through Latin before entering English (1500s).

Pyramid’s story begins in Greek: pyramis meant “pyramid.” Probably from an Egyptian word; Greeks also used it for a wheat cake of similar shape. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as pyramis. Rome has the Pyramid of Cestius. It reached English by 1500s as pyramid. 'pyramid scheme' came in the 1900s. Today, pyramid means a structure with a square base and triangular sides meeting at a point.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient pyramis "pyramid", probably from an Egyptian word; Greeks also used it for a wheat cake of similar shape.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient pyramis "pyramid", Rome has the Pyramid of Cestius.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s pyramid "a pyramid-shaped structure", 'pyramid scheme' came in the 1900s.