Etymology tree Latin bilanx Vulgar Latin *bilancia Old French balancebor. Middle English balaunce English balance Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āzijos Latin -āriusnom. Latin -āriusbor. Proto-Germanic *-ārijaz Proto-West Germanic *-ārī Old English -ere Middle English -ere English -er English balancer From balance + -er.