How Dumbbells Got Their Name

Ever wonder how the dumbbell got its name? I'm going to tell you anyway.

The dumbbell was at first an apparatus for swinging a church bell. Since it rang the bell, but wasn’t the bell itself, it was noiseless or dumb. Moving the dumbbell was hard physical work, and it took practice to develop the strength and skill to ring the heavy church bell. So bars made of metal or wood with a rounded knob at each end were swung as practice for ringing church bells. Later, dumbbells were used for general exercise.
 
You don't have to be a dumbbell to use a dumbbell.