Vandals
/ˈvændəlz/noun
People who deliberately damage or destroy property, or members of the Germanic people who captured Rome in 455 CE.
Did you know?The modern negative meaning emerged largely from Renaissance and later historians who blamed the Vandals for cultural destruction, though scholars dispute how extensive that damage actually was.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic?
Proto-Germanic
*Wandalaz
“Possibly “wanderer” or “one who roams,” though the proposed connection is uncertain”
1st–2nd Century CE
Greek
Οὐάνδαλοι (Ouandaloi)
“The Vandals, a Germanic people recorded by ancient writers”
2nd–3rd Century CE
Latin
Vandali
“The Vandals, as referred to in Roman sources”
455 CE
Latin history
Vandali
“The people who captured and looted Rome for two weeks under King Genseric”
16th Century
French
vandale
“A person accused of destroying art or cultural objects”
Modern English
English
vandals
“People who deliberately damage or destroy property”