Etymology Map
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Tropic

3 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means one of two lines of latitude around the equator

Where does the word "tropic" come from? It comes from Greek tropikos, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
tropikos
Greek · ancient
"of the turning"
Greek, from 'tropē', turning: the sun turns back at the solstice
2
Stage 2 of 3
tropique
Old French · medieval
"tropic"
came via Latin 'tropicus'
3
Stage 3 of 3
tropic
English · 1300s
"solstice line"
the 'tropics' as a hot region date from the 1500s
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Read the full story

Tropic’s story begins in Greek: tropikos meant “of the turning.” Greek, from 'tropē', turning: the sun turns back at the solstice. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as tropique. Came via Latin 'tropicus'. It reached English by 1300s as tropic. The 'tropics' as a hot region date from the 1500s. Today, tropic means one of two lines of latitude around the equator.