Geometric Shapes and Their Origins

Front

trapezoid

Back

Greek: ‘trapeza’ - table

Front

rhombus

Back

Greek: ‘rhombus’ - spinning top

Front

parallelogram

Back

Greek: ‘parallel’ - beside another, ‘gram’ - drawing

Front

circle

Back

Greek: ‘kirkos’ - ring

Front

ellipse

Back

Greek: ‘elliptikos’ - something missing (from the circle)

Front

oval

Back

Medieval Latin: ‘ovum’ - egg

Front

quatrefoil

Back

French: ‘quatre’ - four, ‘foille’ - leaf

Front

curvilinear triangle

Back

Latin: curved - lines - triangle

Front

quatrelobe

Back

French: ‘quatre’ - four, ‘lobe’ - rounded

Front

equilateral triangle

Back

Latin: ‘equi’ - equal, ‘lateral’ - side