Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “catheter” come from?

Catheter comes from French cathéter, from Ancient Greek καθετήρ, formed with the Ancient Greek agent noun suffix -τήρ derived from Proto-Indo-European -tḗr.

catheter (English): A small tube inserted into a body cavity to...

Definitions

  1. A small tube inserted into a body cavity to...

Ancestry of “catheter”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchcathétercatheter
2GermanKatheter—
3Latincatheter—
4Ancient Greekκαθετήρa surgical instrument for emptying the bladder, a...
5Ancient Greekκαθίημιto descend, let down; to let down, descend
6Ancient Greekκᾰτᾰ-fully; down; denoting motion downwards
7Ancient Greekκατά
8Ancient Greekκαταστερίζωto place among the stars; I put among the stars
9Ancient Greekἀστήρa celestial body; illustrious person; starfish
10Proto-Hellenicastḗrstar
11Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂stḗrstar
12Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eHs-to be/become dry; to burn, to glow; hearth

Words derived from “catheter”

  • catheterization
  • transcatheter
  • microcatheter
  • catheterize
  • catheterizable
  • catheterism
  • catheterise
  • microcatheterization
  • thermocatheter
  • katetero
  • kateterizar
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eHs- →