Balteus
/ˈbæltiəs/noun
A belt or sword belt, especially a bandlike anatomical structure or marking.
Did you know?In Roman military imagery, the balteus was more than clothing: a sword belt visibly signaled a soldier’s armed status and rank.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
balteus
“A belt, especially a sword belt or military baldric.”
1st Century BCE–1st Century CE
Latin
balteus
“A belt or girdle; the term appears in Roman literary and military contexts.”
Late Latin
Latin
balteus
“A belt or strap, with continued military and figurative uses.”
17th Century
English
balteus
“A learned borrowing used for a belt or sword belt.”
Modern English
English
balteus
“A technical term for a beltlike structure, including anatomical bands or markings.”