Thunderbolt
/ˈθʌn.dər.boʊlt/noun
A sudden, powerful discharge of lightning accompanied by the sound of thunder.
Did you know?In mythology, thunderbolts were often seen as weapons of gods, symbolizing divine authority and retribution, as seen with Zeus and Thor.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bhel-
“to shine or flash, suggesting sudden brilliance.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἀστραπή (astrapē)
“a flash or lightning, evoking the raw power of storms.”
Old English
Old English
þunor
“thunder, a deep, resonant sound of storms.”
Old English
Old English
beorht
“bright, reflecting the brightness associated with lightning.”
14th Century
Middle English
thunderbolte
“a bolt of thunder, linking sound and lightning in one term.”
Modern English
English
thunderbolt
“a striking combination of thunder and lightning, symbolizing power and fear.”