arenayoudaoicibaDictYouDict[arena 词源字典]
arena: [17] The original sense of Latin (h)arēna was ‘sand’ (hence the English technical term arenaceous ‘sandy’ [17]). The central, ‘stage’ area of classical amphitheatres, where contests were held, was covered with sand (to soak up the contestants’ blood) and so by metaphorical extension arēna became the term for this central area, and hence for any enclosed place used for contests. The word may ultimately be of Etruscan origin.
[arena etymology, arena origin, 英语词源]
arena (n.)youdaoicibaDictYouDict
1620s, "place of combat," from Latin harena "place of combat," originally "sand, sandy place," perhaps from Etruscan. The central stages of Roman amphitheaters were strewn with sand to soak up the blood.