What is the origin of the word "arena"?

Question

I know it has somthing to do with the romans. Any dates would be helpful too.

Answer 1

Apparently it's from Latin. For more details see below.

Answer 2

WORD HISTORY:
Fans watching contact sports such as boxing, hockey, or football in modern arenas might be struck by the connection between the word arena and the notion of gladiatorial combat. This word is from Latin harna (also spelled arna), "sand." Harna then came to mean the part of a Roman amphitheater that was covered with sand to absorb the blood spilled by the combatants. Arena is first recorded in English during the 17th century, denoting this area of a Roman amphitheater.

Answer 3

The Latin word (h)arena means "sand", which was useful as the primary surface when gladiators battled wild animals or each other, to absorb the blood. In Spanish, the word carries both meanings. A bullfight is held in an arena (or plaza de toros, literally "place of bulls") and its floor is also covered with arena.

Answer 4

Arena originally meant "sand" - in fact it's the current Spanish word for sand. Sand was layered on to the "arena" in order to soak up the blood of the victims! Gruesome, I know, but that's a fact. I'm a doctor, so I should know!

Answer 5

The Latin word (h)arena means "sand", which was useful as the primary surface when gladiators battled wild animals or each other, to absorb the blood. In Spanish, the word carries both meanings.

Answer 6

Arena : square , field , stadium .Etc .
Used to be the place where gladiators fight each others .
But Italians use it , today , to mean square .

Answer 7

arena is the place where romans had the battles (like Colloseum)