dolmen (English)
Where does "dolmen" come from?
The word 'dolmen' entered English as a borrowing from French, describing a prehistoric tomb structure featuring a large capstone balanced on upright supports. The term's origins are rooted in the Breton phrase 'taol maen,' which literally translates to 'table stone.' Although linguists suggest this may have been an imperfectly constructed compound, it has persisted as the standard name for these ancient megalithic sites.
Full etymology tree
- dolmen (English), 'A prehistoric megalithic tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones, most having originally been covered with earth or smaller stones to form a barrow.'
- borrowed dolmen (French), 'dolmen (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones)'
- borrowed taol maen (Breton)
- compound taol (Breton), 'table'
- inherited *tavol (Proto-Brythonic)
- borrowed tabula (Latin), 'tablet, sometimes a tablet covered with wax for writing'
- inherited *tavol (Proto-Brythonic)
- compound maen (Breton), 'stone'
- inherited men (Middle Breton)
- derived main (Old Breton)
- inherited *maɣɨn (Proto-Brythonic), 'stone'
- inherited *maginos (Proto-Celtic), 'stone'
- inherited *maɣɨn (Proto-Brythonic), 'stone'
- derived main (Old Breton)
- inherited men (Middle Breton)
- compound taol (Breton), 'table'
- borrowed taol maen (Breton)
- borrowed dolmen (French), 'dolmen (tomb consisting of a capstone supported by two or more upright stones)'
Direct ancestors
Updated June 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris