Etymology Explorer › Ancient Greek

Where does “ἕλῐξ” come from?

ἕλῐξ (Ancient Greek) comes from Ancient Greek πτερόν, from Proto-Indo-European péth₂r̥, from Proto-Indo-European peth₂- — to spread out; to fly.

ἕλῐξ (Ancient Greek): Anything twisted, winding, or spiral; The tendril...

Definitions

  1. Anything twisted, winding, or spiral; The tendril...

Ancestry of “ἕλῐξ”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient Greekπτερόνfeather; wing; Any winged creature
2Proto-Indo-Europeanpéth₂r̥wing; feather
3Proto-Indo-Europeanpeth₂-to spread out; to fly

Words derived from “ἕλῐξ”

  • helicopter
  • helix
  • helices
  • helicase
  • helicoid
  • antihelix
  • helicotrema
  • superhelix
  • anthelix
  • helicin
  • minihelix
  • helixing
  • interhelix
  • microhelix
  • eliche
  • antihelicopter
  • heliciform
  • helicopterlike
  • elicoidali
  • helixlike
  • trihelix
  • hemihelix
  • heliciculture
  • helicicultural
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peth₂- →