psalmus (Latin)
Where does "psalmus" come from?
The Latin noun 'psalmus' was borrowed from the Ancient Greek word 'ψαλμός'[1]. This Greek term is formed from 'ψᾰ́λλω', meaning to twitch, combined with the suffix '-μός'[2]. The ultimate origin of 'ψᾰ́λλω' remains unknown and is likely Pre-Greek[3].
Open questions
- The ultimate origin of the Ancient Greek root is unknown and likely Pre-Greek. [3]
Full etymology tree
- psalmus (Latin), 'psalm'
- borrowed ψαλμός (psalmós) (Ancient Greek), 'twitching or twanging with the fingers'
- derived ψάλλω (psállo) (Ancient Greek), 'to touch sharply, pluck, pull, twitch, twang'
- derived (Pre-Greek)
- suffix -μός (-mós) (Ancient Greek), 'Forms abstract nouns.'
- derived ψάλλω (psállo) (Ancient Greek), 'to touch sharply, pluck, pull, twitch, twang'
- borrowed ψαλμός (psalmós) (Ancient Greek), 'twitching or twanging with the fingers'
Ancestors
- ψαλμός (Ancient Greek)
Descendants and derived words
- salmo (Italian)
- psalm (Old English)
- psealm (Old English)
- sealm (Old English)
- psalmo (Old High German)
- salmo (Old High German)
- salm (Old Irish)
- salm (Piedmontese)
Sources
- psalmus (Latin) - Wiktionary
- ψαλμός (psalmós) (Ancient Greek) - Wiktionary
- ψάλλω (psállo) (Ancient Greek) - Wiktionary
Updated August 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris