Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “cactus” come from?

Cactus comes from Latin cactus, from Ancient Greek κάκτος, a plant name of uncertain ultimate origin.

cactus (English): Any member of the family Cactaceae, a family of...

Definitions

  1. Any member of the family Cactaceae, a family of...

Ancestry of “cactus”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1TranslingualCactusobsolete genus of succulents
2Latincactusthe cardoon, "Cynara cardunculus"
3Ancient Greekκάκτοςthe cardoon, "Cynara cardunculus"; the artichoke...

Words derived from “cactus”

  • cacti
  • cactuslike
  • cactusy
  • cactused
  • noncactus
  • cactws
Every word from Ancient Greek κάκτος →