Where does “bacteria” come from?

Bacteria comes from Ancient Greek βακτηρία, from Ancient Greek βακτήριον, from Ancient Greek βάκτρον meaning "staff" or "rod," from Proto-Indo-European bak-.

bacteria (English): plural of bacterium; A type, species, or strain...

Definitions

  1. plural of bacterium; A type, species, or strain...

Ancestry of “bacteria”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1New Latinbacterianominative plural of bactērium; accusative plural...
2Latinbacteriumcane, walking-stick; staff (of a shepherd)
3Ancient GreekβακτήριονSynonym of βακτηρία
4Ancient Greekβακτηρίαrod, staff, cane; baton
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbaḱ-club, pointed stick, peg; pointed stick, peg

Words derived from “bacteria

Every word from Proto-Indo-European baḱ-