From Latin 'medius' (middle) via 'medalia' (half-value coin) — an award for excellence that began as 'middling.'
A flat piece of metal, often coin-shaped, awarded as a distinction for achievement, especially in military service or athletic competition.
From French médaille, from Italian medaglia, from Vulgar Latin *metallea (a metal object, a coin), from Latin metallum (metal), from Greek metallon (mine, quarry, metal), of uncertain pre-Greek origin, possibly from metalla (to search after, to explore), from meta- (after, beyond) and an Indo-European root related to seeking. The word entered English in the late 16th century meaning a metal disc bearing an inscription or image, awarded in recognition of service or achievement. The semantic journey moves from the material substance — metal — through the crafted object — a stamped
An Olympic gold medal and the word 'medium' share the same Latin root: 'medius' (middle). A medal was originally a half-value coin — something in the middle — and a 'medium' is something in between two extremes. The gold medal you dream of winning literally started as a word for 'middling.'