Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “cauter” come from?

cauter (English) comes from French cautère, from Latin cautērium, from Ancient Greek καυτήρ, from Ancient Greek καίω, from Proto-Hellenic *káyyō.

cauter (English): A hot iron for searing or cauterizing

Definitions

  1. A hot iron for searing or cauterizing

Ancestry of “cauter”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchcautèrecautery
2Latincautērium—
3Ancient Greekκαυτήρbranding iron
4Ancient GreekκαίωI light, kindle, set on fire; I burn, burn up; I...
5Proto-Hellenic*káyyō—

Words derived from “cauter”

  • cauterism
Every word from Proto-Hellenic *káyyō →