Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “actinopterygian” come from?

actinopterygian (English) comes from Translingual Actinopterygii, from Ancient Greek πτέρυξ, from Ancient Greek πτερόν, from Proto-Indo-European péth₂r̥, from Proto-Indo-European peth₂- — to spread out; to fly.

actinopterygian (English): Any of the ray-finned fish of the taxonomic class...

Definitions

  1. Any of the ray-finned fish of the taxonomic class...

Ancestry of “actinopterygian”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1TranslingualActinopterygii—
2Ancient Greekπτέρυξwing; feathers; fins
3Ancient Greekπτερόνfeather; wing; Any winged creature
4Proto-Indo-Europeanpéth₂r̥wing; feather
5Proto-Indo-Europeanpeth₂-to spread out; to fly
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peth₂- →