obstacle(n.)
"阻碍、障碍、妨碍或屏障; 阻挡或挡道的东西",14世纪中叶,来自古法语 obstacle, ostacle "反对、阻碍、妨碍"(13世纪),直接源自拉丁语 obstaculum "阻碍、障碍",带有工具后缀 *-tlom,加上 obstare "站在前面、对立、阻挡、妨碍、挫败",来自 ob "在前面、对着"(见 ob-),加上 stare "站立",源自 PIE 词根 *sta- "站立、坚定或稳固"。
The lover thinks more often of reaching his mistress than the husband of guarding his wife; the prisoner thinks more often of escaping than the gaoler of shutting his door; and so, whatever the obstacles may be, the lover and the prisoner ought to succeed. [Stendhal, "Charterhouse of Parma"]
情人更经常想到达到他的情人,而不是丈夫想到保护他的妻子; 囚犯更经常想到逃脱,而不是狱卒想到关上他的门; 因此,无论障碍是什么,情人和囚犯都应该成功。[斯坦达尔,《帕尔马修道院》]
Obstacle course "赛道,必须克服自然或人工障碍的比赛",最早见于1891年。
该词起源时间:14世纪中期