Atlas
/ˈæt.ləs/noun
A book of maps; also, in Greek mythology, a Titan condemned to hold up the sky.
Did you know?The map-book meaning comes from the Titan Atlas because early book covers often showed him holding the heavens, turning mythology into the symbol for world knowledge.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Ἄτλας (Átlās)
“A Titan in Greek myth who bore the heavens”
Late Latin
Latin
Atlas
“The Titan Atlas, especially as a mythic figure”
16th Century
Latin
atlas
“A collection of maps, often named for Atlas on title pages”
16th–17th Century
French
atlas
“A book of maps”
Modern English
English
atlas
“A book of maps; by extension, a bound collection of charts or images”