calumny Look up calumny at Dictionary.com
mid-15c., from M.Fr. calomnie (15c.), from L. calumnia "trickery, subterfuge, misrepresentation, malicious charge," from calvi "to trick, deceive," from PIE base *kel-, *kol- "to deceive, confuse" (cf. Gk. kelein "to bewitch, seduce, beguile," Goth. holon "to deceive," O.N. hol "praise, flattery," O.E. hol "slander," holian "to slander").