Colosseum
/ˌkɒl.əˈsiː.əm/noun
A large ancient Roman amphitheater in Rome, used for public spectacles.
Did you know?Its name likely comes from the nearby colossal statue of Nero, so the monument to spectacle was literally named by another monument to imperial ego.
Etymological Timeline
Latin (1st–2nd century CE)
Latin
Colosseum
“The amphitheater in Rome; the name was influenced by the nearby colossal statue of Nero.”
Late Latin
Latin
colosseus
“Colossal, giant-sized.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
kolossos
“A giant statue or image.”
Latin
Latin
colossus
“A huge statue or giant figure.”
Modern English
English
colosseum
“The famous Roman amphitheater; by extension, any large amphitheater.”