Follis
/ˈfɒlɪs/noun
A large leather bag or bellows in Latin; later, a term for a kind of Roman coin and then a historical ball game.
Did you know?Latin follis first meant a bellows or inflated bag, and that same “air-filled” idea later helped name a Roman coin, showing how words can drift from physical objects into systems of value.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰel-
“To blow, swell, or inflate.”
Classical Latin
Latin
follis
“A bellows, leathern bag, or inflated sack.”
Late Latin
Latin
follis
“A bag-shaped pouch; also a small coin in late Roman currency.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
follis
“A large ball or inflated object used in games.”
Modern English
English
follis
“A historical term borrowed in scholarly or specialized use.”