Aegis
/ˈiː.dʒɪs/noun
Protection, backing, or authoritative support; originally the shield or protective covering associated with Zeus or Athena.
Did you know?In Greek myth, the aegis was a divine protective object linked to Zeus and Athena, and its name is tied to a word for “goat,” likely because it was imagined as a goatskin shield or cloak.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*aig-
“goat”
Ancient Greek
Greek
aíx / aigós
“goat”
Ancient Greek
Greek
aigis
“goatskin shield or protective cloak associated with Zeus and Athena”
Latin
Latin
aegis
“the aegis, the shield or protective emblem of a deity”
16th Century
English
aegis
“a shield or protection, especially one offering authoritative support”
Modern English
English
aegis
“protection, sponsorship, or backing”