Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Crystal” come from?

Crystal (English) comes from Middle English crystal, from Catalan cristall, from Latin crystallum, from Ancient Greek κρύσταλλος, from Ancient Greek κρύος, from Proto-Indo-European krews- — to form a crust, begin to freeze.

Ancestry of “Crystal”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishcrystal—
2Catalancristallcrystal
3Latincrystalluma crystal; a thing made from crystal; a gem or...
4Ancient Greekκρύσταλλοςice; rock crystal
5Ancient Greekκρύοςcold, chilliness; frost; ice
6Proto-Indo-Europeankrews-to form a crust, begin to freeze

Words derived from “Crystal”

  • Crystal
Every word from Proto-Indo-European krews- →