Why is it called a Dumbbell? The history of the dumbbell

[0:00]The history of the dumbbell dates back to 700 BC in ancient Greece where they were known as Halteres. Made of either stone or metal that weighed between 4 and 20 lbs. Commonly used in training regimes for soldiers and the ancient Greek version of the long jump. India also had a similar dumbbell known as the Indian club, believed to originate from soldiers as a form of training. The term dumbbell had a different meaning back in the late 1600s in England to practice bell ringing, a device called the dumbbell was used. In 1711, English essayist Joseph Addison wrote, I exercised myself an hour every morning upon a dumbbell that is placed in the corner of my room. In the 17th century, they became known as dumbbells. Still unknown why the name changed. Possibly because the lead weights resembled the bar from the original machine or the clapper from a church bell's bell was taken out and swung for exercise. These early dumbbells were light in weight, and they were used for swinging rather than curling heavy weight that was later popularized in the West.