Etymology Map
Back to all words

Terminus

2 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means the final stop of a railway or bus route

Where does the word "terminus" come from? It comes from Latin terminus, adopted directly into English (1830s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
terminus
Latin · ancient
"boundary"
Terminus was the Roman god of boundary markers
2
Stage 2 of 2
terminus
English · 1830s
"the end of a line"
used for the end of a railway line
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Read the full story

Terminus’s story begins in Latin: terminus meant “boundary.” Terminus was the Roman god of boundary markers. It reached English by 1830s as terminus. Used for the end of a railway line. Today, terminus means the final stop of a railway or bus route.