Giant
/ˈdʒaɪ.ənt/noun
A very large person or creature, often depicted as monstrous in folklore.
Did you know?The word 'giant' originates from the mythic race of beings in ancient Greek mythology, known as the 'Gigas', who were known for their great size and strength, often battling the gods.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʲeih₁-
“to be strong or to be lively”
Ancient Greek
Greek
Γίγας (Gigas)
“A member of a race of giants, typically representing chaos and opposition to the gods”
Latin
Latin
gigantem
“Large, immense, derived from Greek; often used to describe mythological giants”
Old French
Old French
geant
“A term borrowed from Latin, referring to a giant or large creature”
Middle English
Middle English
giant
“A being of great size and strength, often depicted in tales as a monster or a force of nature”
Modern English
English
giant
“A large or powerful person or creature, retaining the connotations of folklore and mythology.”