Where does “Pap smear” come from?
Pap smear (English) comes from English smear, from Middle English smeren, from Old English smerian, from Proto-West Germanic *smirwijan, from Proto-Germanic smirwijaną, from Proto-Germanic -janą, from Proto-Indo-European -yéti, from Proto-Indo-European yé- — he, she.
Pap smear (English): A screening test meant to detect pre-cancerous...
Definitions
- A screening test meant to detect pre-cancerous...
Ancestry of “Pap smear”, step by step
Pap smear traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English smear
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | smear | To spread (a substance, especially one that colours or is dirty) across a surface by rubbing |
| 2 | Middle English | smeren | — |
| 3 | Old English | smerian | to laugh at |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | *smirwijan | to smear |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | smirwijaną | to smear, anoint |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | -janą | Derives denominatives from nouns and factitives... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | -yéti | Creates intransitive, often deponent,... |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | yé- | — |
| 9 | Chichewa | iye | he, she |
via English Papanikolaou
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Papanikolaou | — |
| 2 | Greek | Παπανικολάου | — |
| 3 | Greek | παπάς | Alternative form of παππάς; priest |
| 4 | Greek | παππάς | Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic priest; king... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | πάππας | daddy, papa; papa, daddy; father |