vandal
/ˈvændl/
noun
Origin
Proto-Germanic
*wand- — to turn or wander
Overview
Meaning Now
- A person who deliberately destroys or damages property.
- A member of a Germanic people who sacked Rome in 455 AD.
Literal older meaning
wanderer or nomad
Language path
Proto-Germanic → Latin → French → English
Earliest form
Wandalii
Earliest period
1st century AD
Journey
The term was popularized in its modern sense in 1794 by Henri Grégoire, a French bishop who coined 'vandalisme' to describe the destruction of art and cultural property during the French Revolution, falsely attributing the ferocity of the 5th-century Germanic tribe to the historical act of sacking Rome.
Evolution
- 1st century AD
Wandalii
“Germanic tribal confederation”
Mentioned by Tacitus and Pliny.
- 5th century AD
Vandali
“The people who sacked Rome”
Associated with widespread destruction after 455 AD.
- 17th century
Vandal
“A barbarian destroyer”
Term popularized by Henri Grégoire during the French Revolution.
Connections
Word parts
vandal
root
tribal name
Related across languages
Old Norse
vandill
sword (possibly related to tribal name)
Explore next
Related to vandal
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.