Mid 16th century; earliest use found in Richard Sherry (b. c1505), schoolmaster and author. From post-classical Latin paroemia proverb (3rd cent.; in classical Latin as a Greek word) from ancient Greek παροιμία proverb, maxim, in Hellenistic Greek also figure, comparison, probably from παρα- + οἴμη song (perhaps from οἶμος way, road, of uncertain origin) + -ία.