Banco
/ˈbæŋ.koʊ/noun
A bank or bench, especially in Romance-language use; also a financial institution in some languages.
Did you know?In medieval Italian, money-changers worked at a banca, a bench or table, and when they failed, their bench could be broken—an image that helped shape the idea of bankruptcy.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic / Proto-Indo-European
PGmc / PIE
*bankō / *bʰenḱ-
“A raised edge, slope, or support; the deep root behind words for benches and banks.”
Old High German
OHG
bank
“A bench or seat.”
Old French
OF
banque
“A bench or money-changer’s table.”
Medieval Italian
It
banca
“A bench, table, or money-changing stall.”
Middle English
ME
bank
“A money-changer’s bench; by extension, a financial institution.”
Modern English
English
bank
“A financial institution that holds and lends money.”