Daedalus
/ˈdiːdələs/noun
A master craftsman and inventor in Greek mythology, famed for building the Labyrinth of Crete.
Did you know?The name Daedalus is tied to Greek tradition about craftsmanship and clever making, and later writers turned him into the archetype of brilliant ingenuity that can also become a prison.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Δαίδαλος (Daidalos)
“The legendary master craftsman and inventor of the Labyrinth”
Classical Greek
Greek
δαιδάλλειν (daidallein)
“To work skillfully, to fashion elaborately, to adorn”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dai- / *day-
“To cut, divide, or shape; the deeper origin is uncertain and debated”
Latin
Latin
Daedalus
“The mythological inventor and artisan figure adopted from Greek”
Modern English
English
Daedalus
“The Greek mythological craftsman, especially associated with the Labyrinth”