Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Wunderkammer” come from?

Wunderkammer (English) comes from German Wunderkammer, from German kammer, from Middle High German kamer, from Old High German chamara, from Latin camera, from Ancient Greek καμάρα, from Proto-Iranian kamarā-, from Proto-Iranian kamárati — to bend, to curve.

Wunderkammer (English): A cabinet of scientific curiosities, especially...

Definitions

  1. A cabinet of scientific curiosities, especially...

Ancestry of “Wunderkammer”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanWunderkammerroom of wonders
2Germankammer—
3Middle High Germankamer—
4Old High Germanchamara—
5LatincameraA chamber in its various senses, "including";...
6Ancient GreekκαμάραAnything with an arched cover such as a covered...
7Proto-Iraniankamarā-something curved
8Proto-Iraniankamárati—
9Proto-Indo-Iranian*kmárati—
10Proto-Indo-Europeankh₂em-to bend, to curve
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kh₂em- →