Tumulus
/ˈtjuː.mjʊ.ləs/noun
A mound of earth or stones raised over a grave or burial site.
Did you know?Latin *tumulus* is tied to the same root that gave English *tumor*—both began with the idea of a swelling or bulge, which is why a burial mound and a bodily lump share a hidden linguistic shape.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*teuH-
“to swell, bulge”
Latin
Latin
tumere
“to swell”
Latin
Latin
tumulus
“a mound, hillock; especially a burial mound”
Late Latin
Latin
tumulus
“a grave mound, tomb”
Middle English
English
tumulus
“a burial mound, barrow”
Modern English
English
tumulus
“a mound of earth or stones over a grave”